October 5, 2005

A new Anglican Church Centre is to be built in the State of Qatar in the Arabian Gulf. The initiative has arisen from the generosity of the country's Ruler, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, who has ensured an allocation of land for churches and church communities in Doha, the country's rapidly-developing capital.

Embarking on the first such construction of church premises in the country since the seventh century, the Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf has drawn up plans for a development on the site. London-based architect Tom Hornsby's design has at its heart a church to be known as the Church of the Epiphany for the worshipping community. It also includes meeting space and facilities for a wide range of community activities.

The Anglican Bishop in Cyprus and the Gulf, the Most Revd Clive Handford, said that the Centre will also be used for interfaith dialogue.

"This Centre will serve people of many nationalities and backgrounds who live and work in Qatar. For many of them it will be a home from home. But we hope that it will also serve the wider community in the region and in the world. Qatar is an extremely important country in the Middle East and building this centre sends an unmistakable message about dialogue and understanding between Christians and Muslims."

The Anglican community in Qatar has already raised a quarter of the £4 million needed for the project and an appeal for the remainder is to be launched at Lambeth Palace on Thursday evening (6th October) by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.

Anglican Communion News Service, London