Sudbury United church transforms into mosque - Action News
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Sudbury

Sudbury United church transforms into mosque

A Sudbury church is set to close this month, and then re-open as the city's second mosque.

Growing Muslim faith community in Sudbury to use soon-to-be-closed St. Paul's United church

The last religious service at St. Paul's United Church in Sudbury was held in 2013, plans to convert it into a mosque fell apart soon after and now it's set to be home to a Sikh congregation. (Erik White/CBC)

A Sudbury church is set to close this month, and then re-open as the city's second mosque.

The president of the Northern Muslim Association said St. Paul's United Church won't need much work to become a mosque.

St. Paul's United minister Stewart Walker and Northern Muslim Association president Aboubacar Sambo. A deal has been struck to sell the United church building to the Northern Muslim Association. (Erik White/CBC)
"It's a big wide open space, Aboubacar Sambo said. All we need basically are clean carpets."

The association currently sees 120 people at Friday prayers in a tiny room in the south end that's in addition tothe mosque in New Sudbury, which Sambo said is often crowded.

"The Muslim population is just growing and there is a need of having another place of worship, he said.

"Because of the university there [are] a lot of Muslim families settling within the south-west part of the city, so that creates a good balance."

St. Paul's United in Sudburys west end once needed to hold two services a day, but now only has about 30 parishioners.

Reverend Stewart Walker said it's sad to see the end of the church, but he is thrilled it will continue as a place of worship.

"God will continue to be praised here, he said. It's going to be a place where lives will continue to be touched and transformed and I think that's a wonderful thing."

The final service at St. Paul's will be held at the end of this month. Then, after the buildingsale closes in November, it will begin its new life as a mosque.