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Qatar Church Records: Difference between revisions
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==Historical Background== | ==Historical Background== | ||
In May 2005, representatives of Christian churches in Qatar signed an agreement with the Qatari Government for a fifty-year lease on a large piece of property in Mesaimeer on the outskirts of Doha on which they intended to erect six churches at their own expense. The churches were expected to pay nominal lease fees of a few hundred dollars a year, renewable after ten years. The property was expected to include an '''Anglican church that may also be used by other Protestant denominations''', a church to serve thirty four '''Indian-Christian congregations''', a church for the country's small but influential '''Coptic community''', and a site for '''two Orthodox churches, one Greek and one Eastern Rite'''. In December 2005, the foundation stone for the '''Catholic Church''' was laid and the ground-breaking took place at the end of April 2006. A board composed of members of all the Christian churches liaises directly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding church matters. Each church has been granted permission to apply for visas for visiting clerics to preside over and assist in church services. Previously, Catholics and other Christians were limited to informal group meetings in homes. | In May 2005, representatives of Christian churches in Qatar signed an agreement with the Qatari Government for a fifty-year lease on a large piece of property in Mesaimeer on the outskirts of Doha on which they intended to erect six churches at their own expense. The churches were expected to pay nominal lease fees of a few hundred dollars a year, renewable after ten years. The property was expected to include an '''Anglican church that may also be used by other Protestant denominations''', a church to serve thirty four '''Indian-Christian congregations''', a church for the country's small but influential '''Coptic community''', and a site for '''two Orthodox churches, one Greek and one Eastern Rite'''. In December 2005, the foundation stone for the '''Catholic Church''' was laid and the ground-breaking took place at the end of April 2006. A board composed of members of all the Christian churches liaises directly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding church matters. Each church has been granted permission to apply for visas for visiting clerics to preside over and assist in church services. Previously, Catholics and other Christians were limited to informal group meetings in homes. | ||
<ref> Wikipedia contributors, "Christianity in Qatar", in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia,'' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Qatar, accessed 13 April 2020. </ref><br> | |||
Among the denominations mentioned in World Christian Encyclopedia, second edition, Volume 1, p. 617-618 are '''Mar Thoma Syrian Church (India)''', '''Arab Evangelical Church, Christian Brethren, Pentecostals and Anglican Church'''. | |||
The '''Coptic'' minority in Qatar is substantial. There are about 200,000 '''Roman Catholics''', who are under the jurisdiction of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia. Qatar's '''Anglican''' population is estimated at 7,000 to 10,000 persons. In 2008 the first church in 14 centuries, Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, was opened in Doha.<ref> Wikipedia contributors, "Christianity in Qatar", in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia,'' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Qatar, accessed 13 April 2020. </ref><br> | |||
==Information Recorded in the Records== | ==Information Recorded in the Records== | ||