Church needs to quieten down

FOR most people, Sundays are days of relaxation in anticipation for the week ahead. However, in Northdene, some residents said they have had to resort to staying indoors and avoiding going outside for whatever reason. This is because of the noise that infiltrates the peaceful suburb emanating from the Holy Ghost Revival Ministries on Main Road.

“I moved into the area from Escombe about five years ago and one of the things that attracted me to Northdene was the peace and quiet. But now every Sunday, Wednesday and the occasional Fridays that I am at home, we are bombarded with the unbearable noise from this church. I now have to be confined indoors with the TV up to drown the noise from outside,” said Prevan Pillay. He said that he is not against the church being in the area but just wants to bring peace and quiet back into the neighbourhood. “The people worshiping are inside the church, I don’t see why they have to broadcast their services to the rest of us.”

In addition to trying to get the church to lower their volume, Pillay said that he has spoken to the ward councillor, the municipality as well as the Metro Police who told him there was nothing they could do about it.

Resident, Mike Egan, said the noise is extremely unbearable. “I share the same sentiments as Prevan. I take walks in the neighbourhood and I’ve seen the property up close. One wall is starting to collapse towards the railway line and another might collapse. More noise is going to pass through with the barriers down.

“Patience is wearing thin, I know of a guy who just couldn’t take it anymore, he went straight into the church and turned off their amplifiers. It’s so bad, their wooden mic musicians’ screeching is bugging everybody,” he said. Egan added that the noise can be heard as far as Montgomery Road, which is about four blocks away.

However, Senior Apostle, Sharon Venketiah, at Holy Ghost Revival Ministries dismissed all these claims and said that their church was being victimised. “It’s been a battle since our inception in the area about three years ago. Our noise levels have been tremendously down and this feels like a spiritual infringement because our democratic right to practice freedom of religion is being frowned upon,” she said.

Venketiah added that they have had people come into the church to interrupt their services, which seemed like underlying racism to her.

“I have had people come up to my face in front of the congregation to stop the meeting. How can they do this when we are praying? We talk about a rainbow nation and embracing one another but this still happens. If it continues I will have to report the matter to the police and lay a charge,” she said. Venketiah said she welcomed anyone who wished to measure the decibels during their service, as they are confident that they are not violating any bylaws.