Clergyman fined £11,000 for noise

A church minister whose religious fervour is the inspiration of his congregation is facing an £11,000 fine and a court injunction after neighbours found the sounds of worship unbearable.

The amplified music and singing from the services at the Christ Apostolic Church in Leytonstone, east London, earned Pastor Albert Olorunleye a warning from the local authority soon after he arrived four years ago.

But the bureaucratic diktats of Waltham Forest Council were nothing compared to the force of the spiritual exuberance whipped up the 46-year-old pastor. Despite three noise abatement orders being served on Mr Olorunleye, the music, clapping and singing continued as strong as ever.

Last week he lost an appeal against his third conviction for breaking the order and was fined for a third time, taking his fines up to £10,500 with £615 costs. The pastor plans to appeal, but Waltham Forest Council said if the noise continued it would be forced to take out an injunction against the church. If successful, the injunction would be most likely to order the church to stop amplifying the services.

"The last thing we want to do is take any religious order to court but we have to protect the residents and we would much rather they stopped making the noise," said a council spokesman.

One neighbour, Derek Downs, 49, a piano tuner who lives opposite the church, said at its worst the noise of guitars and drums had continued to 4.30am but it was now concentrated on Sunday lunch-time.

"It is the preacher on the microphone and the rest singing and shouting. You have to live next door to it to really understand how bad it is. If we want to go into the garden in the summer there is just no point," he said.

Mr Olorunleye could not be contacted yesterday and a colleague at the church refused to comment.

Last week the pastor told Snaresbrook Crown Court it was not up to him to dampen worshippers' enthusiasm.