House Churches and Place Attachment: A Case Study with Iranian Christians in Scotland

This chapter explores place attachment to house churches, informed by literature and an empirical case study of a Christian Iranian community living in Scotland. An 18-month investigation consisting of participant observation, community integration, and semi-structured interviews was undertaken within an informal but growing house church group of Iranian Christian migrants in Scotland. Our findings provide insight into the important role that house churches play in the lives of those who are part of the faith community and highlight the affective bonds between person and environment through a social psychological lens. This case study provides context for an enriched discussion on the theoretical elements of place attachment as a concept, not only because of the significant role of house churches in the religious lives of participants, but also because of the nature in which the case study was documented. Overall, this chapter presents a synthesis of new and existing knowledge that expands our current understanding of the psychosocial implications of house churches and furthers our understanding of the social and physical elements of these valued places.