goldenhawkes t1_jea5lr5 wrote on March 30, 2023 at 3:10 PM

Reply to comment by ASpellingAirror in Thousands of women join club to combat loneliness - BBC News by idreamofjiro

Yep. My grandparents entire social life was dominated by the church. Ladies group, men’s group, the marrieds group (they founded it when they were all young and newlywed, and had to change the name at some point…) scouts, guides, youth clubs, Sunday school, choir, coffee mornings…. All of it. The harvest suppers and Christmas variety show, the musical performances. I remember it when I was a kid in the 90s and it “wasn’t like the old days” and then it all stopped. They’ve sold off some of the substantial hall space now. My grandparents and all their friends are gone.

howwhyno t1_jebm04l wrote on March 30, 2023 at 8:46 PM

My husband and I talk about this a lot. I was raised religiously, he was not. First time he went to church was in his late 20s with me. I was mostly a Chr-Easter by then being in my 20s and such (hard to get to church w a hangover). Over the years I just stopped going. Recently my 3yo asked if we could go to church. And we started going weekly bc honestly it was something to do and get out of the house w a toddler who is pretty well behaved lol she loves church! My husband was saying how post-covid we may see more of a return to churches as a form of community bc we are all so isolated and lonely. I am skeptical bc I can also see us going further into isolation....but I'm interested to see.