Hodnetts converting Scotland, or England, or...who knows? Part 2

[Lurky]

@EmainMacha I am SO looking out for them!  I would have assumed Welsh, too, if that helps!

@FrumperedCat Do you reckon the average kid would fall for a youth club that was trying to indoctrinate them, though?  Especially if their parents don't go?  I ask, because I always remember my mum talking about how much she hated being forced to go to church and youth groups by her parents who didn't go.  And I was suckered into a few things as a kid that looked like 1 thing but actually were Church, & avoided them like the plague.

Now, doing a youth group that had no religious element, but was trying to live the faith, if that makes sense, maybe... but I don't know what they'd have to offer to kids from such a culturally different background.

[FrumperedCat]

3 minutes ago, Lurky said:

Do you reckon the average kid would fall for a youth club that was trying to indoctrinate them, though?  Especially if their parents don't go?  I ask, because I always remember my mum talking about how much she hated being forced to go to church and youth groups by her parents who didn't go. 

I think so as long as it's not overly religious and there isn't a vibe of religion and pressure. It also depends on the approach to the bible study and how preachy the leader is about it. A small bible study session in amongst all the other activities isn't such a big deal and if you spend the rest of the night not really involving religion then it can be subtle almost. Our local youth club was like that. The weekly club would last maybe 2 hours and have a short 10/15 minute bible study session. A lot of those who weren't religious went and I feel nobody was there because there parents pressured them to. Mind you nobody came out of it more religious than before. I think this was because it was good fun and free and in our village many people who went already knew each other so they could hang out. 

Given that Jody mentions some of the kids attending coming from difficult home situations I think they'd enjoy that sort of set up. They'd get free food and a fun evening with friends (and a bit of preaching) and Jody would get to brag about his success. 

[Palimpsest]

39 minutes ago, FrumperedCat said:

They could even incorporate Christian values by getting the youth involved in the local community volunteering and helping raise money for charities. 

Do not give Jody good ideas. 

I wonder whether Ginger's sewing classes ever happened.  Those were a much better idea than buying a church or holding a revival.  And why can't Jody just rent space in a shop front or something if he needs it?

[Lurky]

3 minutes ago, Palimpsest said:

And why can't Jody just rent space in a shop front or something if he needs it?

I can totally see someone like Jody caught up in the romance of bringing life into an abandoned church building - I don't mean to be some snobby Euro type, but a brick church building built in the 1860s has different cultural connotations in the UK than in Jody's church tradition, whereas in the UK, an empty redbrick church is a  super-common thing to see in any town or city. 

Plus the idea of an empty church has a pull to people like him - especially if they don't understand why the church stopped in the building (lack of congregation, but also those buildings are bad for multi-purpose use.  If it's old-skool with built-in pews, it can't also be a good space for youth groups, messy church, inviting other groups in to use the space etc - not to mention the perennial heating/leaking issues).

But all this just highlights how little Jody understands the context he wants to build a congregation in.  Of course the idea of standing up on a pulpit in front of a Victorian building packed with people is so seductive, the congregation lifting their voices to the vaulted ceiling, with sunlight shafting through the huge stained-glass windows, and so on.  But it's just not realistic in the UK, outside of the famous cathedrals.  Even USA-style mega-churches, which are much rarer here, are in ugly warehouse-style buildings on the edge of town, because it's 100 times better for them than one of the old church buildings that'll be converted into flats or a business.

[Palimpsest]

30 minutes ago, Lurky said:

I don't mean to be some snobby Euro type, but a brick church building built in the 1860s has different cultural connotations in the UK than in Jody's church tradition, whereas in the UK, an empty redbrick church is a  super-common thing to see in any town or city. 

Eh.  I'm in NE, Jody is also east coast USA.  I'd be surprised if he were that romantic.   I think he's just greedy and it would play well back home.

Thread drift alert!  

Hello, my name is Palimpsest.  I am powerless over house porn on either side of the pond.

There are 3 1800 - 1890 former churches up for sale within 10 miles of me here.  One is brick, one stone, and one has white clapboard siding.  Very sweet.  They are languishing on the market even though they could convert very well into housing.  The white one is next to an "antique" graveyard - last burial being in the 1960s.  No-one wants to buy that one because - ghosties and ghoulies!  I would say quiet neighbors ...

We have 17th and 18th century houses still coming up for sale around here and I like looking at the listings even though I will never buy one.  I use them as inspiration for making my historically accurate as possible dolls houses.  I'm on my second.  It would be rather cool to try a church. 

I also love watching "Escape to the Country" although no-one ever seems to buy a house.

Edited September 14, 2017 by Palimpsest

[FeministShrew]

I snooped a bit & found that church for sale, too. I told Mr. Shrew that we are moving to Scotland to live in it, lol.
I've always wanted to buy a church building or old school and live in it. There was a Southern Baptist church across the street from my mom's last house. The church built a new building nearby, and friends of my grandfather bought the old one. They converted the sanctuary into an antique shop, and the basement (where the classrooms/offices had been) into their living area. They installed a hot tub where the baptismal pool had been. It made a beautiful home, but unfortunately it burned down a few years later. 

 

[Lurky]

@FeministShrew There are some gorgeous-looking homes in converted churches and chapels over here.  I covet the homes in the old stone churches with tall ceilings and so many windows, but I do wonder what they're like to heat.

Some gorgeous conversions around the world:

http://mymodernmet.com/converted-church-houses/

And some in Wales for you to drool over: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/welsh-homes/7-heavenly-converted-churches-chapels-7869345

 

[Gobsmacked]

On 14 September 2017 at 11:28 PM, Palimpsest said:

Do not give Jody good ideas. 

I wonder whether Ginger's sewing classes ever happened.  Those were a much better idea than buying a church or holding a revival.  And why can't Jody just rent space in a shop front or something if he needs it?

Exactly. There are empty shops in every Scottish high street sadly. 

Starting a youth club is a brilliant idea but would take lots of work and filling in of paper to do. Jody and Ginger would need to register with the local authorities and be police back ground checked before even Opening the doors. A Stranger arriving into town and inviting young people to eat and have fun/ bible study will be viewed with suspicion. Dunblane was 20 years ago now with lessons learned. Thomas Hamilton was a single man with ex-scouting experience.  Parents involved with him had a sixth sense that all was not right. Sadly those suspicions proved correct.

I am in no way inferring that Jody is insane, just trying to explain why he will find starting a youth group difficult to set up without huge background checks. 

[Glasgowghirl]

https://goo.gl/images/gkHVXz I've copied a link to a charity food bank drive hosted at Celtic Park today before their match against Ross County. Thousands of people from different backgrounds showed up with bags to help those less fortunate. Jody doesn't bother doing stuff like this to help the poor he cares more about trying to convert them to his brand of Christianity. These drives happen regularly at football matches in Scotland and both home and away fans get involved. Jody may not be able do something on the scale Celtic did today but he could get his congregation to smaller drives but that doesn't further his agenda.

[EmainMacha]

@Lurky Sainsbury's have the Ecclefechan pies in stock now. Apparently 3 months til Christmas is time to stock mince pies etc

Spoiler

Maybe Jody might like to try some. You know, just to fit in with the locals.

[Lurky]

@EmainMacha I love you, and I am totally going to walk out of my way to the nearest big Sainsburys!  THANKYOU! 

(I just said "butter tart" in an accidentally regionally accent and am having the piss taken out of me.  The funny thing is, this could count in most of the UK, re regional v BBC accents!)

(ETA I just said "tarts made of butter" in my poshest accent, and that's even worse!  How do Canadians say it? I can claim that's the right way!)

Edited September 27, 2017 by Lurky

[Gobsmacked]

Jody is learning English (British english)! He also needs a custom built container for a stage piano. Is he departing Lockerbie?!! He is off to preach in Carlisle this coming Sunday due to the Pastors absence. Perhaps he needs his own Piano??

So many questions after a dearth of news.

.

[Lurky]

Wait, he grifted a piano?  A month or so ago he was after an electric piano, so congrats to him, I guess.

I note on his FB that he's lost 50lbs since arriving in Scotland, and given how many takeaways/Fish&chips he's posted about, I am laughing that his F&C lifestyle is healthier than his USA food

[Gobsmacked]

It does make me wonder what he was eating in the USA! My guess is he is walking more now. It pointless jumping in the car for every little journey. Lockerbie isn't a large place. Petrol/diesel costs far more in the UK also. The Hodnetts will be on a pretty tight budget (IMHO). 

[Lurky]

I was wondering about the piano, but it turns out "stage piano" isn't what I thought it was!  I thought it would be like a grand piano, but it looks like it means electric keyboard:

https://www.dawsons.co.uk/keyboards-pianos/stage-pianos

So I guess he's grifted well, and someone will be bringing it over from the States for them, but I'm surprised they need a custom case for it, as I would think paying for a custom case and for the extra costs for flying it over would be more than buying a second hand one in the UK.  Mind you, I guess if the grifting worked for the keyboard, maybe it can work for a case too?

[Palimpsest]

3 hours ago, Lurky said:

I was wondering about the piano, but it turns out "stage piano" isn't what I thought it was! 

I have no idea what a "stage piano" is but it looked to me that he was looking for someone to build a custom case for one in Dumfries.  Possibly to take it to Carlisle safely ...

And there is this in the comments:

Quote

<name redacted> I thank God you were obedient to his calling and the roof on the house in Dundee fell in so you ended up.on Dumfries."What the enemy means for BAD God WILL turn round to GOOD for His GLORY.Hallelujah.Bless you all.

WHAT???  God actually made the roof on the Dundee house fall in as a sign of his wrath and Jody just moved on to Dumfries?  Well, Lockerbie, to be exact.  And Carlisle.

How many signs from God do these people need?  And when will they stop blaming Satan for clear messages from God that they don't agree with.  

[Lurky]

@Palimpsest Oh good point - so why a "a custom flight case" then - are they going back?

And re the message from God - foolish Palimpsest, you know that when bad things happen to Good Christians, it's either sent by Satan, or trials to work through.  It's only when bad things happen to heathen sinners that it's a punishment! 

The only way you can tell is looking at the people who it's happened to and deciding if you like them or not!  Like them?  Part of God's rich plan, send prayers and cash.  Don't like them?  Point and yell that they've brought it all on themselves and it's a deserved punishment. 

[Gobsmacked]

Jody def asked for someone in the Dumfries area to make the piano case. If the piano is only going to Carlise, then why? The light house baptist church in Carlisle has a piano. Videos of Ginger playing it have been posted. 

Curiouser and curiouser. 

[samurai_sarah]

Just randomly wondering what kind of visa the Hodnetts are on in the UK.

[Gobsmacked]

I have been wondering also. I mentioned a possibility of him taking over from the Pastor in Carlisle ages ago. Jody then began his "church" in the community centre. Now he needs his stage piano(!) wrapped  up safely. He surely wouldn't cart it all the way back to the USA. No, me thinks it's going with him to Carlise. For good? I'm beginning to think so. Jody has kept very quiet since arriving in Lockerbie. He was all bluster and Scotland bashing before arriving in our shores. Something has happened/ gone awry . He may have another Facebook account that we don't have access to? My spider senses are tingling. 

[Lurky]

I assume this is his visa:

https://www.gov.uk/tier-5-religious

[hoipolloi]

20 minutes ago, Lurky said:

I assume this is his visa:

https://www.gov.uk/tier-5-religious

Those fees are substantial -- as they should be.

So who or what entity sponsored these grifters & are the original sponsors still in the picture?

[Gobsmacked]

Well sleuthed Lurky. That answered my question at the start of the Hodnett saga on Scottish soils about Health care. 

[Palimpsest]

Do we know who originally sponsored Jody?

[Gobsmacked]

Not a clue. I'm not a brilliant sleuth though! Have tried. He seems to have pals from umpteen churches back home. I did wonder about The LightHouse Baptist churches though.