A Scottish church has become the first in the UK to share its premises with Muslim worshippers.
St John’s Episcopal Church in Aberdeen now welcomes hundreds of Muslims praying five times a day in their building as the nearby mosque was so small that they were forced to worship outside.
The minister of St John's, Rev Isaac Poobalan, has handed over part of the church hall to Chief Imam Ahmed Megharbi and the imam has led prayers in the main chapel.
Rev Poobalan said today that he would not be true to his faith if he did not offer to help.
Sheikh Ahmed Megharbi, left, and Rev Isaac Poobalan, right, behind the altar at St John's Episcopal Church, Aberdeen, which is also being used as a place of worship for Muslims
Rev Poobalan, right, said he would not be true to his faith if he did not offer to help his neighbours with their overcrowding problem
'The mosque was so full at times, there would be people outside in the wind and rain praying.
'I knew I couldn’t just let this happen - because I would be abandoning what the Bible teaches us about how we should treat our neighbours.
'When I spoke to people at the church about the situation, someone actually said to me this was not our problem, but I had seen it with my own eyes, so it was a problem.
'When I spoke to the imam there was some hesitation on their part too, because this has never been done before.
'But they took us up on the offer and it has been a positive relationship.
Rev Poobalan, 50, said being surrounded by Islam while growing up in India helped break down the divide for worshippers of two religions praying together in Aberdeen.
Sheikh Ahmed Megharbi of the Syed Shah Mustafa Jame Masjid mosque said: 'What happens here is special and there should be no problem repeating this across the country.
'The relationship is friendly and respectful.'
St John's is part of the Scottish Episcopal Church, which is part of the Anglican Communion and distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland.
The Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney, the Right Rev Dr Robert Gillies said that this relationship could be the start of a change in dynamics between the two faiths.
Dr Gillies said: 'It would be good to think we can change the world.
'Most of us most of the time feel we can’t so don’t bother.
'But sometimes, someone has a vision we can do something of global significance on a local scale.
'This is what is happening between St John’s and the mosque in its grounds.
St John's Episcopal Church in Aberdeen is believed to be the first in the UK to share with Muslims
Sections of the church hall have been handed over to the mosque and the imam has led prayers in the chapel
Dr Gillies said that the 'eyes of the world' were now focused on the two faiths represented in the building on the city’s Crown Terrace.
Although the Christian church regards Jesus as the son of God, the Muslim faith views him as a key prophet.
Even with differences like these, there can be a mutual respect, said Dr Gillies.
The relationship between the mosque and St John’s has developed over the past few years.
On Christmas Eve 2010 both opened their doors for prayers, food and socialising.
In 2011, the church and mosque teamed up to mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the USA.
Verses were read from both the Bible and the Koran to commemorate those who died.
There have been cases of Christians allowing Muslims to pray in their churches in parts of America.
In 2011, two Florida churches were criticised for opening their doors to Muslim groups.
But Church leaders believe the move in Aberdeen is a first for the United Kingdom.
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That's the best way to create peace if we can continue like that
ReplyDeleteHmmm, Christlam is knocking as the door in that town. Bewcusse very soon, they will remove what differentiate Islam from Christianity and merge the two faith together. Well, it is not new to me. We already have Christlam in Nigeria. God will help us
ReplyDeleteServing one God is not a problem but motive behind our religion is where. The problem is
ReplyDeletehop the church has a gud c of o before they will begin to claim that its their holy place of worship.
ReplyDeleteCan a Christian pray in their own mosque? Mtchew. Coexistence my ass.
ReplyDeleteCrazy worshipping with boko harams. Smh
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 9.07 am comment is so funny. But it is true. I hope they do have that document. It is not advisable to trust people no matter their faith or colour anyway.
ReplyDelete