» To clap, or not to clap

[Dorsetmike]

Applause, no during or after a service, but OK for a recital/concert.

[Fretless]

The congregation at my church will applaud the choir if it is a special event. For example, we did the Bruckner Te Deum and it took the place of the sermon for that day--I played in the orchestra (got to do the violin solo ).

[jhnbrbr]

A long time ago I attended a church performance of "Olivet to Calvary" and at the end there was total silence, which always makes me feel embarrassed on behalf of the performers, so I raised my hands and almost started clapping single-handedly (as I've sometimes done at organ recitals), but lost my nerve at the last minute and put them down again. Later I overheard the conductor talking to someone: "Thank God no-one applauded this time. The last time we performed this work some idiot clapped at the end!"

EDIT: When I said clapping "single-handedly" I meant on my own, of course, not using one hand only!!

[Contratrombone64]

Nothing wrong with "the clap" ...