To accompany the social scene at Church, there is a telling illustration on p.255 of my hardcover edition. It appears that no one is paying attention. I was just about to start a post commenting on the great illustrations throughout the book, so yours is a good opening to the subject.

I am not surprised that some people attended Church with social thoughts in mind. They were as human then as we are today ;-), and most people like to be social. If a young lady had limited social options in her provincial town, then going to Church was probably a key opportunity for being seen or trying to get the attention of a particular man who is interesting to her.