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Church ‘silenced’ by court
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COUNCIL: All Nations were served with notice from Lambeth LONDON CHURCH Immanuel House of Worship (IHW), in Walthamstow, east London, has effectively been ‘silenced’ by a court after a decision by magistrates to uphold a noise abatement notice not to play excessive sound.
IHW church has been meeting at Vallentin Road in Walthamstow since it bought the premises in 2006. After they moved in noise levels were reportedly approved by environmental officers.
However, following complaints from a Muslim neighbour, the church was sent a letter asking them to keep the noise down.
The church reduced the number and length of services, and shortened the amount of time spent singing, but complaints from the neighbour continued and the church was issued with an abatement notice on May 6.
Following the court’s ruling, IHW has sought the advice of the Christian Legal Centre over their plight and to appeal last week’s decision. CLC has instructed leading Human Right’s expert Paul Diamond to represent the church at the appeal.
Another church being helped by the Christian Legal Centre is All Nations, in Kennington, south London, who were served with a noise abatement notice by Lambeth Council after complaints from neighbours about the level of noise. This is the first complaint the church has received since it began meeting in the premises in the 1960s.
Church leaders have been ordered not to amplify its music or sermons – something which will make worship very difficult for the 600-strong congregation, some of whom are elderly and hard of hearing.
Pastor Jubiuke believes the complaints which have led to the notice have been triggered by the church’s plans to develop a disused school into a community centre in partnership with the council.
He said: “The complaint has nothing to do with the noise and everything to do with our faith. Lambeth Council are driving us out and we feel harassed.”
Published: 20 October 2009
Issue: 1394
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