Continuing a series of blogs heading round the 32 qualifying countries in the 2022 World Cup - I will pick out one church in each one. I am not going to choose only churches that are to my liking. This is an exploration not a recommendation! To see all in the series select the label 'World Cup Churches' below.
Morocco, like its North African neighbours, is not an easy place to be a Christian. Having said which, it is probably currently the easiest setting outside Egypt (though Egypt is far from easy) because of its latest change of government. More business-orientated than Islamist, it pays less stringent attention to issues around Christian life and witness.
Tangiers, the city over the water from Gibraltar, has a considerable Christian history, though one scattered with persecutions and problems. In 298AD Marcellus, a Roman Centurion, was put to death because he refused to join in the sacrifices to Roman gods in celebration of the Emperor's birthday. Others appear to have been killed in the city.
Tangiers' colourful history has seen it belonging to Portugal, Spain, England and as an International City. Mostly, however, since the 8th century, it has been an Islamic city and there have been various persecutions as typical of North Africa. But also, as this church indicates, times of generosity and accommodation.
Set in beautiful city-centre parkland it could easily be assumed this is an slightly strangely whitewashed English parish church perhaps on the south coast of England, benefiting from the historic land-owning established church.
But of course, no. The generosity that gave St Andrew's Anglican Church its remarkable setting was that of the then King of Morocco. The complex relationship of generosity and antagonism between Islam and Christianity would provide never-ending study material, not least in Tangiers.
From the earliest days of Jesus and the apostles there are so many stories of unlikely helps in the work of God. You'd almost think God was bigger than the Church . . .
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