UK: Churches against mosque 'political statement'
CHURCHES in Camberley have denounced the plans to build a large traditional mosque in the town.
This week the Churches Together group said it felt the domed mosque, which will have 100ft minarets, would be making a powerful cultural and political statement.
The group, which represents 11 churches in the borough, also said that if the plans for the mosque were approved it could become a serious source of antagonism between the Muslim and wider communities.
The Rev Mark Chester, chairman of Churches Together and vicar of St Paul's Church, said the group did support the Muslim community's efforts to have better facilities.
He said: "There are many valued Muslim members of our community here in Camberley who have had a meeting place here for some years.
"Local churches in Camberley have had good relations with our Muslim neighbours, and agree that they should have appropriate facilities.
"However, I suggest there is a serious problem when the building of a new place of worship becomes such a contentious issue for the community.
"It is vitally important that a new-build mosque, or a place of worship for any faith, is appropriate to its setting rather than something clearly imported from a quite different culture.
"I think it is fair to say that a mosque with two 100ft minarets and a large elevated dome is making not so much a spiritual, as a powerful cultural, or even political statement."
He added that if the mosque was given the go-ahead it could damage the relations between Muslims and the rest of the community for years to come
(more)
Source: Get Surrey
CHURCHES in Camberley have denounced the plans to build a large traditional mosque in the town.
This week the Churches Together group said it felt the domed mosque, which will have 100ft minarets, would be making a powerful cultural and political statement.
The group, which represents 11 churches in the borough, also said that if the plans for the mosque were approved it could become a serious source of antagonism between the Muslim and wider communities.
The Rev Mark Chester, chairman of Churches Together and vicar of St Paul's Church, said the group did support the Muslim community's efforts to have better facilities.
He said: "There are many valued Muslim members of our community here in Camberley who have had a meeting place here for some years.
"Local churches in Camberley have had good relations with our Muslim neighbours, and agree that they should have appropriate facilities.
"However, I suggest there is a serious problem when the building of a new place of worship becomes such a contentious issue for the community.
"It is vitally important that a new-build mosque, or a place of worship for any faith, is appropriate to its setting rather than something clearly imported from a quite different culture.
"I think it is fair to say that a mosque with two 100ft minarets and a large elevated dome is making not so much a spiritual, as a powerful cultural, or even political statement."
He added that if the mosque was given the go-ahead it could damage the relations between Muslims and the rest of the community for years to come
(more)
Source: Get Surrey
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