Fear of church (ecclesiophobia)

Ecclesiophobia is a fear of church. It can make weddings, funerals and christenings stressful, and some people feel uneasy just walking past a church or hearing the bells.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek ekklesia, first meaning a gathering or assembly and later used for the church. It is a rare term found mostly on lists, one of several fears tied to religious settings. It may link to feelings about religion, crowds, enclosed spaces or past experiences.

What it feels like

• Tension or a need to leave during a service
• Making excuses to avoid family events held in church
• Unease at religious objects, organ music or the hush inside a church

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Can someone fear church but still have faith?

Yes. The fear may have more to do with the building, the crowd or past events than with belief. If it is linked to something that happened to you in a religious setting, a GP or a specialist counsellor can help.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

See all session options and prices