Hundreds of worshippers will soon be be able to visit the long-awaited new Church of South India which is nearing completion in Abu Dhabi.
The winged exterior of the peach and sandstone structure is preparing to welcome the Protestant faithful from across the Emirates.
The community of parishioners from southern India have been waiting for their own space to worship for more than four decades.
“We have been here for 43 years and this is our dream come true to have our own church,” parish priest, Lalji M Philip, told The National.
“The construction is almost done.
“We are very thankful to the UAE government for giving us this land for a church.
“We are not a very big community and are very grateful for the chance to have our own space.”
People have been worshipping every Friday evening at St Andrew’s Church in Abu Dhabi since 1979.
Construction began in September 2020 on the steel and cement structure, which is awaiting electricity and water connections from local authorities.
Chandeliers will be fitted in the central skylight, wooden pews and an organ will soon be added, and a multi-purpose room has been built on the ground floor.
The building will hold about 750 people, with an upper balcony section overlooking the main prayer area on the ground floor.
While the 5,000-strong community is small in the UAE, it is the second-biggest group in India after the Roman Catholic church.
Based in Abu Dhabi’s Al Shahama area, the plot is near an under-construction Hindu temple off the busy Sheikh Zayed Road highway which links Abu Dhabi with Dubai.
One of the large church windows will have a view of the temple in the adjoining area.
Both holy places are symbols of religious freedom in a country that prides itself on being open to diverse faith and cultures.
The involvement of the local community is evident in the planning of the church, which cost about Dh10.8 million.
Ten tall windows have been fitted with stained glass that depict scenes from the Old and New Testament in warm, vivid colours.
The designs feature Noah’s Ark and the Ten Commandments on one side of the hall, and the birth of Jesus on the other.
A close-knit group of church members are part of the project management team and provided the design and theme for the stained-glass windows.
They visited a workshop in Abu Dhabi’s Musaffah area regularly to check on the progress of the panels.
Architect Maher Lamie spoke of the community spirit that galvanised the project.
“The angel’s wings on an elevation outside - it’s as if the angels are taking care of the church. They feel like guardians of the church,” said the Egyptian, who has constructed mosques, churches and towers in the UAE.
“It is a simple octagonal structure from the outside. But on the inside, it is circular, with the idea being to signify a continuous space, one where there is no end.”
Land for the church was granted by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
Fr Philip said the church would be open to all in keeping with the UAE’s policy of tolerance.
“We pray that whosoever visits the church will find peace, serenity and all the blessings of God,” he said.
“No matter which community or religion visits here, we pray it is a place of blessing to all those who come.
“Prayer is the backbone of the community."
The church will have a choir of 50 parishioners, who will welcome people from across the emirates for Sunday prayers.
Infobox
Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August
Results
UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets
Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets
Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets
Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs
Monday fixtures
UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
CHELSEA SQUAD
Arrizabalaga, Bettinelli, Rudiger, Christensen, Silva, Chalobah, Sarr, Azpilicueta, James, Kenedy, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Pulisic, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Werner, Havertz, Lukaku.
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
