Age difference

Agree with ClareAB, go for it IF he asks, but tread carefully !!!

I had a nice male friend six years younger than me, and just when I thought things were hotting up he told me he was gay we are still seeing each other as good friends.

He sounds gorgeous! And no need to jump ahead to ‘a relationship’ just meet up (I agree not a cinema, no chatting there), not a meal (you might find it stressful and want to bolt) but a cafe/bar would be fine.
Yes, go to church this Sunday. If you don’t you’ll beat yourself up all day! Try not to think others are judging you. So what if they are? You might if the shoe were on the other foot anyway. That’s life!

And GabriellaG54 I’m so impressed at the age gap with your partner! You sound as though you have a good figure and without a fat tummy to contend with that must give you such a confidence boost. I shall think of you now as Mde. Macron! Love it!

My husband is 15 years younger than me, but we did come from similar backgrounds and he had elderly parents so was almost like my generation. We've been together over 25 years now, so it can happen. But, at the risk of sounding xenophobic or something, some cultures are more flirtatious than others, and one tends to think of a smooth talking Italian romeo, and not take it as seriously as if a normal working class English guy started coming on. So by all means enjoy it but always view it through the context of this person's own background and personality, so that you're not reading him wrong. Also I don't know your financial situation but there is always the worry that someone might be after material benefits - another problem I didn't need to worry about with mine as he was better off than me. We basically came together, initially as friends, over a shared hobby.

Relax and enjoy the friendship as it develops. If it becomes a romantic involvement, you can discuss whether the age difference would cause you any problems. The difference may turn out to be less than you think. You can presumably also find out quite a bit about him from other folk at church/in the neighbourhood before you accept an invitation for a date. If he is pretty comfortably off, as you seem to have discovered, it is unlikely that he is looking for financial support or a roof over his head - but it is always best to be cautious. I had a friend who got involved with a Turkish man. She went to live in Turkey and they were supposed to be getting married. She lent him some money but it became very nasty ( including violence) when he realised she was not as rich as he had thought and then it turned out he was actually still married although he had said he was divorced (he had shown her what was meant to be divorce papers) .
Good luck - hopefully it will become at least a good friendship and maybe more.

I would be very wary. My husband is a pastor; the 'new visitor' I watch closely is the single male. Sometimes, they come to church with a different agenda that spiritual growth. I don't know enough of the details to say that he has ulterior motives, but I have seen it done in church before. 'Church people' can be very trusting and naive. Just be really, really careful! A 60-year old man has a large pool of available females to choose from. Does it seem interesting that a handsome foreign stranger would choose a church to meet women? H-m-m-m ........

Urmstongran

Gosh! You are a card.
I exploded with laughter when I read the Ms Macron bit. Who on earth would want to look like her? Gee whizz, not me.
I'm a size 16/18 up top and 14/16 on the bottom half, depending on where I shop. Marry that to 5'7" and that's me. Not pretty, possibly mildly attractive but it's all about personality, it must be. My OH likes the fact that I'm totally different to anyone he's met as regards personality and no bs. We talk a lot and I give him nice back massages.
All good.

Where are you MEANT to meet people? Church has always been a dating service. But make it clear you only fancy him sexually, and are after his money. (Well, you're worried it might be the other way around, aren't you? Equality is available, you only have to pick it up.)

Reality check - Tall dark handsome stranger chats up ladies at church for friendship? I think there is something in the adage 'if it seems too good to be true then it probably is'.
I would just keep to meeting in church with coffee. If he suggest other meetings, ask him to Sunday lunch with the family!

I'd be very flattered,and want to get to know him better,but ,as people have been saying,keep safe and go to somewhere where you can just sit and chat.I know a couple where the woman is 15 years older,they are so happy,she's in her 70s.

Gabriella and other ladies who are older than their men. You all inspire me. I shall go to church this coming Sunday and see what happens,
A year ago I met a man (English) on a dating site. He seemed OK, close to my age, and took me to a garden centre for tea and a teacake. Then a week later he asked me to go to a local theatre to view an opera beamed over from London. The moment the theatre lights went down he grabbed my hand. I was not ready for that and wiggled it free. He drove a lovely green Jaguar. I am not a fast mover. I decided not to see him again and now I regret it . He told me I was beautiful!!!

You know, he might just feel that church is such a respectable place to meet that you couldn't possibly think he was making a pass!

Sorry, couldn't resist the temptation.

If he asks go out and enjoy yourself, it's easy enough to mention your children in conversation and ask about his family, whether he is living here permanently or going back to Italy.

ENJOY YOURSELF.

Telly, no way would I invite him to my home to meet my family, not for a long time.
Oh Romeo! You are such a nice man, and all the Gransnetters are dead jealous of my fancy man. I hope he turns out to be really sweet and as nice as he seems to be so far, I do not expect a big romance at my age, but it would be nice just to have somebody around... You know what I mean.

Enjoy his company, get to know him. I have great male friend who I met through work. We enjoy each other’s company. It’s purely platonic. Only small minded people make judgement.

Go out, enjoy yourself but hold back from any further commitments, take it slowly.

I say this as two older women I know have been 'swept off their feet' by charming new suitors, one lost her house, her savings and her pride and the other escaped by a hair's breadth.

Go girl, but what M0nica said

Nobody would think twice if he was 15 years older so why worry the other way round - go and enjoy

My (second) husband is seven years younger than I and we are still very happily married after over twenty five years. When I met him (we were introduced by a friend), I was about to get divorced and the very last thing I wanted was another man!
He persuaded me to go out and we got on like a house on fire straight away.

Annarami, I don't know why but your remark about no dancing or anything sporty made me giggle.

I agree with others, if he asks then go, but be sensible and go where there are lots of people, keep your hand on your ha'penny ( as my mother used to say) and just enjoy his company.
Don't accept a lift in his car, have your own transport.
Can't wait to hear how this progresses. Good luck.

I don’t think you are too vulnerable for exploitation because:

A) you seem to not have been desperate to meet someone or you would have joined the dating club at church

B) you have posted your concerns here showing that you are aware of possible issues.

A good friend of mine met a local man in Havana/Cuba when on holiday. She was 50 and he was of similar age. They married and lived in England when he realised that she was not as wealthy as he had thought and both became unhappy due to cultural differences. I think the marriage lasted no more than 2 years. She was initially so flattered and thought of her relationship as an adventure and a change to her dreary life.

Italian culture of course cannot be compared to Cuban culture.... - just be careful.

I dont think there was any mention of a dating club or have I missed something?
It was a church service surely?

There was a singles club night Maw probably in the church hall that the OP never bothered with.

Annaram1

Hey! It might just be a town near me. There is a garden centre near there and a local theatre which offers London screenings.
I must look out for a green Jag.

Keep your hand on your ha'penny.

...and this is one gransnetter who is most certainly not jealous of your 'fancy man'.
He's too old for me.