Ah yes, this is by design. You will be able to leave after certain story points are met.
Viewing post in Grand Terra Saga: The Ballad Of Bulwark The Noma comments
Sorry I don't think I was too clear. I tried to enter the church and it didn't work. So I tried to leave (which obviously wasn't supposed to work yet but I was just trying everything). And then I came back and was only able to enter the church after trying a few more times. Why is the church so hard to enter? I wasn't able to figure out why it wouldn't let me in and then all of a sudden it did.