Mosque in Surrey is aiming to boost hundreds of kilos and “put smiles on faces” by fundraising to assist save a 150-year-old village church dealing with closure.
All Saints Church in Tilford was deemed unsafe when components of its ceiling fell down in October 2021, and church-goers now want to boost £110,000 for its restoration.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Affiliation (AMYA), representing the Mubarak Mosque, has organised a charity race on Sunday to assist the church attain its goal.
The interfaith occasion will see church congregants, native schoolchildren and villagers, and a whole lot of younger Muslims and Imams participate in a 5k or 10k run – with all of the proceeds going in direction of saving the church.
Sabah Ahmedi, 28, who’s certainly one of Britain’s youngest Imams, stated initiatives like this will “assist construct bridges” between totally different religion teams.
He informed the PA information company: “It’s a basic obligation on all Muslims to assist their neighbours, no matter their background.
“So I’m solely fulfilling my responsibility by working with our pals and neighbours from the church.
“It’s my agency perception that initiatives like this assist to construct bridges and put smiles on faces, particularly within the difficult circumstances.”
The All Saints church, consecrated in 1867, is a Grade II-listed constructing which suggests all of the work being carried out on it needs to be accomplished by a heritage knowledgeable in a position to work with conventional lime plaster.
So far, the church has raised over £70,000 and restoration work is nearing completion however it’s hoped that Sunday’s occasion will assist attain the ultimate fundraising goal.
I hope this event will give us the chance to shine a lightweight on how non secular concord can carry individuals collectively.
Church treasurer Charlotte Mathias stated funding the restoration has been a “daunting process” however added it has introduced individuals of their village collectively in “non secular concord”.
“The church sits on the coronary heart of our village and isn’t solely an vital place of worship however an area heritage asset,” Ms Mathias stated.
“The burden of discovering the cash to hold out the in depth work on the church ceiling falls fully on the parish and is sort of a frightening process.
“We’re delighted to be internet hosting this occasion with our pals and neighbours from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Group.
“I hope this event will give us the chance to shine a lightweight on how non secular concord can carry individuals collectively.”
The AMYA helps to organise the occasion to boost cash for the church as a part of their Mercy 4 Mankind initiative, which celebrates the lifetime of the Prophet Mohammed.
Luqman Bajwa, lead organiser of Mercy 4 Mankind charity occasions, stated: “Our flagship occasion has been occurring for years and we’ve raised thousands and thousands of kilos for British charities.
“Nonetheless, that is one thing distinctive and particular.
“Serving to to rebuild a church for us as Muslims is one thing that’s motivated by the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad who instructed Muslims to guard all locations of worship.
“To see the native church again to its full glory shall be very rewarding for all of us.”
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