£4 million Anglican church centre to be built in Qatar
Date: Oct 7

A ‘modern’ Anglican Church Centre is to be built in Qatar to cater for Christians of multiple nationalities. Organisers of the project say it is ‘hugely significant’ in the ongoing dialogue and understanding between Muslims and Christians. The Church of the Epiphany in Doha will be used by many Christians from the Indian subcontinent, as well as serving an 18,000-strong expatriate community. It will have many rooms serving a variety of purposes including an education centre aimed at promoting interfaith dialogue. With a circular plan and two huge colonnaded wings sprouting from the main body its grandiose designs look more like an Italian Renaissance villa than a 21st century Anglican church. Jane Kellet, Treasurer of the Appeal Committee for the project, explained why it is aesthetically unique.

She said: “The whole thing will look unlike anything else. It is built with the very hot climate in mind. These wings are colonnaded all around so people can stand in the shade, unlike England where we dash out in the sun as soon as we can.” She continued: “The focal point of the building is the welcome court. It is a place of gathering, transition, preparation, accessibility and orientation. Limestone walls and floors will aim to keep temperatures to a minimum inside the church. The Anglican Bishop in Cyprus and the Gulf, the Most Rev Clive Hanford, highlighted the further benefits of such an undertaking. He said: “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.” Building is due to start early next year and will finish in time for the Feast of the Epiphany in 2007. A quarter of the £4 million needed for the project has been raised by the Anglican community in Qatar. An appeal for the remainder of the funds is to be launched at Lambeth Palace this week by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. link