St Madoc of Ferns in Haroldston West, Wales is closing after being used as a place of worship for 1,439 years. The story is typical throughout the UK and beyond, of dwindling numbers due to population shifts and people becoming less religious.
As an atheist I've no desire to plonk my bum on a pew, but I do recognise the place of churches in the landscape and their historic role in society. I don't think they should simply be left to crumble or be bulldozed.
What do you think should be done with old religious buildings no longer used for worship?
I'd say develop them into nightclubs, but that one seems too remote. Ask the Catholic Church, one estimate is that they own over 177 million acres of land. Some of it must have had churches and have another use now. They must have a high efficiency machine working to be landlords on that level. The area of the US is about 2.43 billion acres, so they own a land area over 7% the size of the US.
Most historic churches you see have a group of people raising money to keep it a historic site, or they're owned by the Catholic church who can say, whatever, screw it, anything more than 500 years old is historic now. I figure whoever can pay for it can determine it's next usage. Own of my friends had an old church as his house for a while, then it kind of evolved into a crack den. His money, the community he was in might have felt bad about it... so why didn't they buy it themselves? The place was cheap.
606 opinions shared on Religion & Spirituality topic.
Apparently houses of worship are protected by holy means. So if we leave them it will be fine according to religious beliefs, if they just believe and put faith in god churches like this will never crumble. So I guess that solves the problem from a religious view. Since people actually believe stuff like that.
As for myself I am not religious so I am sure someone who's religious wouldn't want my idea of what I would want done to them. Which is just begone of them, as I see them just temples of historic fascism and still are today in many ways fascism granted in the more east. But hey you still get westerns trying to use church as a way to get abortion laws changed back. Because religion wants to dictate what laws should be.
Even I who is not overly religious thinks it is sad anywhere with any religion where these beautiful masterpieces of architecture and history are abandoned by the churches. At least keep them in good repair and make museums of world and church history for future generations to see and enjoy.
I watched a UK home improvement show where a couple bought one and turned it into there home. But they were required to provide access to a grave yard and had to have experts excavate under the floor when they removed it to check for historic artifacts before doing any digging. The man who had no experience took on a bunch of work himself and nearly wrecked his marriage because of the crazy hours he put into it. It all worked out in the end. Even if the opening into their kid's bedroom in the loft they added had less than 5' of clearance under a stone archway. He made the first floor ceiling too high. I'm an atheist too, but it sure made for a cool home.
One church in the US was turned into a factory that made "Specialty" leather goods. (BDSM supplies.) There was a picture on their website of a woman decked out like a dominatrix working at an old fashion commercial sewing machine set up in the sanctuary, but I can't find it online any more.
1 is now a community cafe run by volunteers (including yours truly) 2 is still the traditional CoE church 3 is the Catholic church 4 is the Baptist church 5 is a set of new builds since it was sold to and bulldozed by the develoers but that place was a wreck after barely 100 years also used to be the youth club 6. Was the Baptist but is currently the youth club and was until recently also the operating HQ of a churchgoers advertising business but he's moving soon... that will soon I suspect be a conversion waiting to happen
No matter what people's beliefs are it was built to be a positive it should be preserved as a positive a reminder of where we were once in time as a positive it doesn't matter what you believe in it was built as something positive and should remain the same way just whether it's positive or negative don't destroy something that is beautiful no matter what you believe in I'm sure it is beautiful and it should remain standing and should remain beautiful
In Sutton in Ashford there was a decommissioned churche for a miniature wargaming venue it's empty now as they changed venue. In Nottingham there is a restaurant that used be a church called the pitcher and piano.
526 opinions shared on Religion & Spirituality topic.
There are several things that could be done: 1. Churches with a long history could be turned into museums and managed by the local council. 2. If feasible, repurpose the building into a meeting hall, restaurant, or hostel. 3. If the building is not historical and needs too many repairs, tear it down and create a park.
888 opinions shared on Religion & Spirituality topic.
I'd like to plonk your bum on a pew...
Sorry about that. What I meant to say was, I think if a church has historical and cultural value, it should be preserved. There are a lot of similar cases in the US: The church my parents attend has shrunk considerably. They really need to combine congregations with the two other churches of the same denomination in the urban area, and sell off the real estate of the other two. Of course they were all built since 1960 so there is no historical importance or architectural value in the properties. In the UK I would expect it is considerably different, as every hamlet and neighborhood probably has an old church that has been around for centuries. I believe in Germany they are supported by state funds to some extent.
Historically, they get 'de-consecrated' and often re-purposed either by different denominations or used as museums or other 'themed' commercial outlets~
People are awaking and becoming more PERSONALLY 'spiritual' (gnostic) and less vested in a guilt-ridden 'sheeple' complicit obedience.
567 opinions shared on Religion & Spirituality topic.
You are in Church when you read the Bible, not when you enter a fancy old building. Turn it into a car dealership for all I care. But personally, I would still preach in it even with little to no people entering it. Just because people want to burn in hell doesn't mean I want them to.
Maybe make museum out of it. Like some local history museum where a visitor can learn something about the region and about the importance that church had for the community. Or turn into a monument that way you could take out all the pews and leave put in some plates where people can read and learn about the history of that church.
Maybe turn them into human service agencies where the struggling people in society can get some help. Since it has the capacity for many people to be there at a time. I'd also say a meeting place, say for AA meetings or community events.
1.4K opinions shared on Religion & Spirituality topic.
That particular church is historic and should be preserved. Some near me are run down and were not built well. They should be taken down and the land sold.
They could be used to shelter the homeless. There'd be enough room in just one church for perhaps 10 to 20 people. It would be much better for them than sleeping on the street or in a park.
They actually make good foundations for a remodel to make it a home. This one with the cemetery next to it as so many older churches would have had may be more difficult to sale.
it is truly Sad... Religion brought humanity out of the "Darl Ages" and now we are headed back down that Hole... Hedonistic, self-serving, Humans... only caring about themselves
@NorthwestRider. I partially agree. Religion, wielded by man, is often used to serve man's interests. I struggle quite a bit with what man says about God, but I believe in a purity beyond man's huge flaws.
Girl's Behavior 
Guy's Behavior 
Flirting 
Dating 
Relationships 
Fashion & Beauty 
Health & Fitness 
Marriage & Weddings 
Shopping & Gifts 
Technology & Internet 
Break Up & Divorce 
Education & Career 
Entertainment & Arts 
Family & Friends 
Food & Beverage 
Hobbies & Leisure 
Other 
Religion & Spirituality 
Society & Politics 
Sports 
Travel 
Trending & News 
