LONDON Loud church-goers told to pipe down

Admin Tue 13 Oct 2009, 10:58 am

Loud church-goers told to pipe down
LONDON (UPI) -- A London church can no longer amplify its hymns and sermons after neighbors complained, the Pentecostal church's pastor says.

All Nations Centre pastor Victor Jibuike said a Lambeth Council decision in response to a complaint to town hall that left his congregation of 600 people under orders to quiet down wasn't about volume levels, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

"The complaint against us has nothing to do with noise and everything to do with our faith," Jibuike, 43, said.

Last week, the Immanuel International Christian Centre faced a similar order concerning its musical efforts. With decibel restrictions in place, the London congregation's ranks quickly shrank from 100 to 30 people.

Jibuike told the Telegraph his church could face a similar drop in followers because of the ban on amplified hymns and sermons.

"We are horrified at the implications of this order, which means people will no longer be able to worship," the pastor said.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International