Historic church gets Muslim backing

[Nicholas]

FOOD guru and charity campaigner Loyd Grossman is backing a plan to have a long-empty church brought to life - by the local Muslim community.
Mr Grossman is chairman of the Church Conservation Trust.

Now, members of the surrounding Muslim community want to bring the church back into use as a health centre, gym, IT learning centre and café. Mr Grossman said: "Churches like this need to remain alive and at the centre of the community.

"This church is beautiful and inspiring and it doesn't matter what faith people are, the most important thing is people being able to make use of their local parish church.

Inayat Omarji, 36, who has spearheaded the plans and formed the All Souls Crompton Community Centre Trust.
"The community has changed since the church opened in 1881 and the area is now predominantly Muslim. Talking to young people, parents and the elderly, I found there was a big gap for a community facility.

"They wanted somewhere everyone could go, a one-stop shop where local people could learn new skills, worship, meet people, get fit, and find anything the community needed," he said...............

Historic church gets Muslim backing - News - The Asian News