Doors at the back OF CHURCH?

At our last AGM, the issue of the doors at the back of church being open was raised and we agreed to look at the decision again and assess where we were.

We talked about the pros and cons at the Church Council, the Stewards and the Church Family meetings and took into consideration the comments made at the AGM.

Pros -

  • The crèche has established its home in the Palm Grove room, which allow parents to see and hear worship.

  • Opening the doors reduces the temperature in the worship area considerably; this is very noticeable at funerals.

  • It is relatively quiet in church before people enter at the moment and it would become noisier if people entered from the back doors.

  • It would require more stewards if we were to have the main doors open; we struggle for numbers even now.

  • More people say it is good to be welcomed into the Willow Grove, than object.

  • There is much value in the social aspect of coffee and conversation before a service, with space for some to be quiet by moving to the worship area.

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    Cons -

  • It is over-facing for new people entering by the Willow Grove.

  • They do not know how to enter the worship space.

  • The noise of people chatting can be intimidating.

  • From the outside, the main doors are the obvious entrance and people may think the church is closed.

  • The noise from the crèche is detrimental to worship

  • Some latecomers find it uncomfortable entering the church at the front.

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    Jane