Abu Dhabi church pays tribute to Zayed on 50th anniversary
abu dhabi — An oasis of peace, a refuge, a home away from home, an institution for life: St. Andrew’s Church has been all of this and more to the Abu Dhabi Christian community, its long-time members recalled as the Anglican church celebrated its 50th anniversary on Wednesday.
Jose Bernado Gomes, 62, who worked as a parish clerk for 32 years from 1980 to 2012 at the church, said he was “beyond happy.”
“It is a very special moment for me. This church has been my life and existence since I arrived in the UAE in 1979,” Gomes told Khaleej
Times. He left the UAE in 2012, but was specially invited by the church for the anniversary ceremony.
“I used to work in the church when it was on the corniche first, and then moved to this new building in Muroor. I used to do everything from running errands to taking care of the paper work. Today, I see a lot of old faces. It is like a homecoming to me,” said Gomes, who is married with three grownup children. He currently lives in Goa, India, with his family.
St. Andrew’s Church celebrated its 50th anniversary by planting a Ghaf tree to pay tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who had donated the land on the corniche to build the first Anglican church in the Capital.
Addressing the attendees, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, said: “You have been a shining example of tolerance and selfless service to the community. It is always humbling to see someone walk the talk.
“You stand for your fellow men. You have chosen to share your facility with members of other congregations rather than keep it for your sole use and convenience.
“Your generosity in sharing your church building and gardens for others is a great example of tolerance and key values that have made the UAE one of the most peaceful and prosperous places on earth.”
More than 50 congregations catering to different nationalities including Ethiopians, Koreans, Pakistanis, Indians, Nepalese and Western expats worship at the church.
St. Andrews Church was established in 1968 to mainly cater to the British expats who were working for the oil companies in Abu Dhabi. In 1980, it moved to the new building in Muroor.
A new church — All Saints Anglican Church — is under construction in Musaffah, and once complete, it will be the biggest Anglican church in the Middle East.