Yep, local church halls were where I practised with various bands as a teenager, with whatever guitars/amps/speakers/drums/cymbals we managed to get our hands on.
Similar experiences with Woolies as well, every Saturday morning would go in there and look at the guitars and amps, even though we had a proper music shop (Mr Music) just around the corner. The guitars in Woolies at £40 - £50 in the early 80s were within dreamable reach for a teenager, the £400 ones in Mr Music were def not.