The church I attend has a bell which, when I started attending in the last millennium, was rung vigorously every Sunday morning – until the neighbours started complaining. St Columba Anglican Church in Durban, Southern Africa has found a different way to annoy the neighbours. As Canadian Anglican Churches devolve into community centres, perhaps this is a harbinger of something we can look forward to in Canada.

From here:

Homeowners in Greenwood Park have now started a petition to silence the church, which hires out a function room as a party venue.

The St Columba Anglican Church reverberates to the beat of pounding music and drunken revellers until the early hours of the morning, keeping frustrated neighbours awake.

The Rev James Wylie this week declined to comment on the complaints until he had an opportunity to discuss the matter with members of the church council.

But he said he hoped the matter would be settled ”amicably”.

Keith van Wyk, who lives next door to the church, said he was “sick and tired” of the blaring music and drunken partygoers.

”It’s every weekend. These parties go on until at least 4am. I have a family, and the loud music keeps my children and wife awake,” he said.

He said numerous complaints to the church authorities had fallen on deaf ears.

”They advertise for free in the local newspaper, promoting drunken parties indicating that people should bring their own booze. I feel this is deceptive and immoral. Nightclubs need to pay for advertising, why not them?”