https://youtu.be/2roVtYSbOpM?si=gqAzZQ-lowyK3jS0
With Islam being one of the fastest-growing religions in the UK, there’s more need for mosques. So when an old church goes up for sale, it’s not exactly surprising that someone might want to turn it into a mosque. Makes sense, right? Well, not so fast because unlike Jehovah’s Witnesses the Church of England is putting up a fight.
Take what happened in Hanley, Staffordshire last year. A group called the Zamir Foundation bought a disused Anglican church and got permission to convert it into a mosque. But before they could even roll out the prayer mats, the Church of England stepped in and said, "Not so fast."
Turns out, when the church was sold back in 2009, a little legal clause was tucked into the paperwork saying the building could never be used for worship by another religion. So, despite it being empty for decades, despite the fact that no one from the Church of England was actually using it, and despite the fact that a growing community needed a place to pray, the answer was still a firm “no.”
Now, this isn’t a one-off. The Church of England has been doing this for years. Whenever they sell off a church, they slap on a "no other religions" rule, making sure it never becomes a mosque, temple, or anything else that isn’t Christian. You’ve got to admire their commitment to the brand.
But here’s where it gets really interesting. While the Anglicans are busy protecting their old churches from becoming mosques, Jehovah’s Witnesses couldn’t care less, yes these pompous Kingdom Hall dedication talks were for the birds.
Unlike the Church of England, they don’t bother with any legal nonsense about who can buy them or what they can be turned into. Mosque? Sure. Hindu temple? Why not. Office space? Go for it. As long as the cheque clears, it’s yours.