St Andrew’s Church celebrates 50 years
SINCE ITS INAUGURATION IN THE UAE IN 1968, IT HAS DRAWN WORSHIPPERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
We also see bridge-building between Christians and Muslims as an essential activity. Regular interfaith events and activities take place, in which mutual understanding and appreciation flourish.”
The existence of St Andrew’s church in the capital for 50 years reflects the UAE’s tradition of tolerance, a senior official said here yesterday during a ceremony to mark the golden jubilee of the church.
The church shares its premises with many other Christian congregations from across the globe, which is an example of tolerance, said Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, in his message during the thanksgiving service at the church.
While welcoming people from all parts of the world in the initial years of the UAE as a nation, the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan had realised the need for worship for everyone, irrespective of one’s faith, Shaikh Nahyan said.
He was hopeful that the church would continue with its good work. “The future looks very good indeed,” Shaikh Nahyan added.
Bishop Michael Lewis, the leader of the Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, said the word ‘tolerance’ was not enough to describe the UAE’s gesture of welcoming lawabiding Christians from across the globe and granting them freedom of worship.
Services for expatriates
According to church records, the history of the church began when the first Anglican chaplain travelled to the UAE in the late 1950s, offering services to the expatriate community. On one occasion, the chaplain sang a Christmas carol to Shaikh Shakhbout Al Nahyan, the then ruler of Abu Dhabi, who granted land for the Anglican church to be built. Canon Andrew Thompson, senior chaplain at the church, said the first church building came up in 1968 on the Abu Dhabi corniche, offering ■
Canon Andrew Thompson | Senior chaplain at St Andrew’s Church
facilities for worship to oiland-gas workers of British Petroleum. St Andrew’s became a centre for the diverse Christian community in the city. The worshippers were from various parts of the world, including Korean nurses, Indian Martoma teachers, Pakistani engineers and European diplomats.
Within ten years, services were being conducted in 12 languages, Thompson said.
Today, St Andrew’s church hosts more than 50 congregations of Christian traditions as diverse as Ethiopian Orthodox to the Nepalese Evangelical, Brazilian Pentecostal, Greek Orthodox, Egyptian Coptic Orthodox, Chinese Evangelical and several Indian and Filipino Pentecostal groups, the chaplain said.
Over the decades, St Andrew’s has been a spiritual home to thousands of Christians and has seen countless weddings and baptisms. The church has also been the comforting centre for moments of great sadness, he said.
“We also see bridge-building between Christians and Muslims as an essential activity and regular interfaith events and activities take place, in which mutual understanding and appreciation flourish,” Thompson said.