This may be something that only happens in the Anglican, Church of England tradition and, maybe, I can't be certain Catholic Churches but I know it winds up irregular or non church goers and more reserved churchgoers too. It's called 'sharing the peace' but some people seem to view it more as a 'breach of the peace' so here is a word of explanation and, as far as it's necessary, an apology.

The Vicar has finished his sermon and you've mumbled through the creed or kept your silence, confident no one is likely to notice you are not joining in; but then that moment arrives and the vicar utters those dread words, "Let us offer one another a sign of peace."

What follows may be entirely unexpected or the moment you've been dreading. Suddenly there's no place to hide. Depending on the custom of the church either the people about you will proffer their hand expecting you to shake it or the entire congregation, you and a few shy ones excepted, will leave their seats and rush around like maniacs greeting all and sundry. The keenest won't be satisfied until they've shaken the hand of everyone in the church. In some churches the worst offenders (because no one condones this) see it as a chance to catch up on the news.

People of my advanced years who gave up regular church going in their teens or earlier are particularly perturbed by all this and insist irritatedly that it must be a 'new thing'. It's seen, by irregular visitors, understandably I guess, as an intrusion and somewhat threatening. They seem to assume either that this is the point at which they will be seized upon and dragged into the fellowship against their will or that it is a display of forced friendliness and bonhomie quite out of keeping with any genuine feeling on the part of the well wishers.

There is some substance to seeing all this as 'new' although it has been around for some decades since the new prayer book, Common Worship, was introduced and reflects a practice with its origins in the early church. The 'sign of peace' exchanged by the early Christians was a kiss but this is considered a step too far for the reserved English and a handshake substituted. The 17th century Book of Common  Prayer would have substituted a few words from the priest at the end of the service, "The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ but the revised prayer book restored them to their rightful place before communion is shared where worshippers in the old prayer book would have been advised in supplementary notes to reconcile any differences before coming to the alter.

The contributory factor in the unfamiliarity for now irregular church goers is that where for generations the main service was the non Eucharistic (I.e. Non communion) Morning Service it has become more common, except perhaps in the evangelical wing of the church for the main Sunday service to be Holy Communion and for Baptisms (a.k.a Christenings), that bring many irregular church goers into the Church to be celebrated as part of this main service.

It isn't meant to be torture or an attempt at forced proselytism for non church goers but the more sensitive regular church goers will hopefully be sensitive to the fact that this is how it must seem. When I went to church regularly and felt part of the worshipping congregation I came to value and enjoy this part of the service. If it's not for you and you'd rather not participate I can only apologise. Looking at your feet usually works. No one really wants to invade your space if that's not what you want.

A lot of church goers are friendlier and more approachable than you give them credit for and more scared by the idea of evangelism (if we are talking Church of England) than you are. The friendliness is often quite genuine but if you'd rather be left alone most people will get the message. There really isn't anything to be afraid of.

The Lord be with you!