First in UK: Scottish church allows Muslims to pray in its premises

In a rare gesture signifying communal harmony, a Scotland church has become the first in UK to share its building with Muslims, who pray five times a day there. St John's Episcopal Church in Aberdeen, Scotland, now has hundreds of Muslims praying five times a day in their building as the neighbouring mosque was so small that they were forced to worship outside. Sections of the main hall have been handed over by Indian-origin priest Isaac Poobalan to Chief Imam Ahmed Megharbi and his congregation and at busy times they even use the main chapel to pray. Although there have been cases of Christians allowing Muslims to pray in their Churches in parts of America, church chiefs believe it is a first for UK. Poobalan, 50, said being surrounded by Islam while growing up in India helped break down the divide for worshippers of two religions praying together in Aberdeen. ‘Praying is never wrong. My job is to encourage people to pray. The mosque was so full at times, there would be people outside in the wind and rain praying,’ Poobalan was quoted by Scotland's STV as saying.