Sheikh helps Town buy UK Church

Admin Thu 06 Jul 2017, 3:09 pm

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/dubai.sheikh.helps.cornish.town.buy.its.methodist.chapel/110303.htm
Dubai Sheikh helps Cornish town buy its Methodist Chapel
harry-farley Harry Farley JOURNALIST 29 June 2017 | 3:51 PM
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pin it Next Post >>
Play Video
Mexico blasts Texas' new 'sanctuary city' ban
The ruler of Dubai has helped a small Cornish village buy its Methodist chapel after residents wrote requesting his help.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum's donation has allowed locals in Godolphin Cross near Helston to purchase the church, according to Cornwall Live.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai
Reuters
The idea for the bold appeal came from one villager Valerie Wallace as a last ditch attempt with the group struggling to raise the £90,000 needed to buy the building.

The village shares a name with the world famous Godolphin stables, founded by the sheikh, and when he responded to their emails residents thought it was a hoax.

'We thought nothing of it and then we began to get phone calls from Dubai,' Richard Mckie from the Godolphin Cross Community Association said.

'We thought we were being hoaxed but it was no hoax.'
It is not known how much the sheikh contributed but it was enough to enable to villagers to raise the total.
Enboldened by their success the villages have now launched a new appeal to raise the £300,000 needed to refurbish the chapel.
The campaign to save Godolphin Chapel has been boosted by the Sheikh's donation.
Facebook / Save Godolphin Chapel
They plan to use the building as a community hall after the Methodist Church announced in 2015 it was selling off the building.

'We can't thank Sheikh Mohammed enough and we'd love to see him in this neck of the woods any time. He would be assured of a very warm welcome,' said Mckie.

'I think this shows that he's interested in the history and values this Cornish link. He has put his money to help a community staring down the barrel of having nowhere to go for community events. We are thinking of using part of the chapel to explain about the link.'