The Project
The Emir of Qatar has offered land to site the country’s first Christian churches since the seventh century when Islam took root in the Gulf country. The Anglican Centre in Doha, Qatar is being built with the kind permission of His Highness The Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, on a site provided by the State of Qatar. The Centre will provide a welcome for all Anglican/Protestant/Evangelical Christians to address both their spiritual and community needs.
At the heart of the Centre is the Church of the Epiphany. The church will accommodate up to 650 worshipers, utilizing a design that will allow smaller groups to feel comfortable in the main ground floor area. The Church will be the spiritual home for the Anglican congregation and many other Christian congregations and groups who wish to worship there. This Ecumenical tradition of hospitality is well established in the Anglican Church in the Gulf where many Christian groups do not have their own dedicated buildings. We currently accommodate 45 additional Evangelical, Pentecostal and Protestant congregations at the Anglican Centre!
The Chapel is situated in the south courtyard and will be used for daily worship, weddings and baptisms. In addition there will be classrooms, meeting rooms and many variously-sized assembly halls available for other Church Groups, Youth Groups, Sunday Schools, Prayer Groups and Christian activities, plus administrative and storage functions. The Centre will also include a Courtyard of Remembrance – a quiet area for private prayer and meditation. A community area to the north side of the main Sanctuary features a cross-shaped baptistery modeled on ancient churches of the early church, bordered by function halls, rooms and offices which will be available for use by community groups for meetings, wedding receptions and other community celebrations.
Construction and Costs
With the agreement with our Bishop, it has been decided that we will build the Centre in a series of stages. The first, and most important stage is now finished, and consists of the following facilities:
- Site Development, construction of perimeter and security gates;
- Two Halls to accommodate up to 250 persons each.
- One Hall to accommodate up to 200 persons.
- Two Halls to accommodate up to 100 persons each.
- Two Halls to accommodate up to 80 persons each.
- Six classrooms for the Children’s Church.
- Toilets and infant care rooms (with wheelchair access)
- Church Office.
Phase One has cost about 15,000,000 Qatari Riyals. We are grateful for the partnership of many local congregations and interested and visionary friends from around the world.
How Can You Help?
We need to raise at least 20 million Qatar Riyals to continue with phases two and three as quickly as possible. Fund Raising in Qatar is moving along in earnest but we will need all the help we can get, and we hope that you will be able to help in two specific ways. Firstly, we would be grateful for your prayers of support. Secondly we hope that you may be in a position where you are able to make a donation towards what will be a wonderful facility for Christians in Qatar. Our “Donations” page includes details on supporting this worthwhile and unique project.
Further Information
If you would like further information on donating to this very worthwhile cause, please contact: The Ven Canon Bill Schwartz at rector@epiphany-qatar.org or on Mobile Telephone Number +974 5514-6706.
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| Services are currently held in the gymnasium of DESS school. |
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