Church noise robs Christian neighbour of peace and sleep

WESTERN BUREAU:

A Westmoreland resident’s dream of peace and quiet has been abruptly shattered by the unsettling symphony of loud noises, haunting late-night sermons, and relentless thumping of music.

The source of this disturbance? The recent relocation of The Sacred Heart Spiritual Church of Jesus Christ to Barclays Street, Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, last November.

“Since November 5, when this Pocomania church decided to have a two-week convocation, my life and that of my family has become a living hell,” Shermaine Hartley-Drummond, a teacher residing at premises across from lands bought by the church told The Gleaner.

Hartley-Drummond, a Christian herself, said she has been grappling with the intrusion of disruptive sounds that not only pierce through the stillness of the night, but have caused her several sleepless nights and shaken the core of the house she lives in.

“There are three other churches on this street, and this has never been a problem,” said the woman, who has resided at her current location for five years. The Sacred Heart Church is operating from a big tent for now said the teacher.

Numerous complaints

Efforts to get the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to force the church to adhere to the Noise Abatement Act have proved futile said the teacher, whose 75-year-old mother, a cancer patient, has been suffering through the disturbances as well.

Hartley-Drummond went as far as penning a letter to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) for Westmoreland Wayne Josephs, asking for his intervention.

However, individuals claiming to be ‘in the know’ say the church is well connected, and that is why the police have not been able to come down on it as heavily as they wanted to.

“It is unacceptable. The fact that you are a church does not make it right,” a well-placed source told The Gleaner.

The police have been known to shut down dance events in the parish due to loud and lewd music, and in some cases, threaten to seize instruments.

“I have made numerous complaints to the police. After their first night I was not able to go to work the next day because they went up until 2:00 a.m.,” Hartley-Drummond shared, adding that after five calls to not only the Westmoreland police, but Area One, a police team turned up, but after they left, the music was turned up again by the church leaders.

The Westmoreland resident said that after her letter to the SSP, a Constable Watson reached out, but there was no improvement, so she decided to record the nightly services and the sound it made in her house as proof.

Hartley-Drummond said she made another report, this time to an inspector by the name of Shirley, who tried his very best. She went as far as the ears of the Custos of the Parish, Father Hartley Perrin, who confirmed knowledge of the incidents but said he believed the matter had been resolved.

Hartley-Drummond is convinced that the police were facing backlash for attempting to enforce regulations on the church. At least 150 congregants converge at the big tent that the church has put up since it started operating in the space said Hartley-Drummond.

It was in the final two days of the two-week convention that she said she received some relief, after the police telephoned the pastor, threatening to stop the service if they didn’t turn down the music.

Watch night service

Hartley-Drummond said the church removed the tent after the convention, but last Saturday, she noticed it was back.

“I called the pastor [to ask] what was happening, and they said they would be having watch night service, leading up to the New Year.”

New Year’s night, she said the church had a service until 2:00 a.m., and she didn’t complain.

“After the service finished at 2:00 a.m., the members congregated, chatting and laughing until 3:00 a.m.”

On Tuesday night, the church was back to its old self. At 10:25 p.m., when Hartley-Drummond spoke with the newspaper, the sound of loud drumming could be heard in her home.

She said the church no longer needs a permit to operate on its own property, but owes it to residents to allow them to live in peace.

“I went there to speak with them, and the members cursed me out. They told me that I can’t stop God, and mi must go lock up inna mi house and keep quiet,” recounted Hartlet-Drummond, describing her attempts, which had been met with hostility.

The Gleaner made several calls to the church’s music pastor, Pastor McNish, with whom Hartley-Drummond said she has been in dialogue. There was, however, no response.

Efforts to reach Josephs were also unsuccessful.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com