Submitted by Maymuna Siddiquea on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Morocco sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures…
In week three, I had the opportunity to visit the church of St. Andrews (The English Church). It was a very special experience to say the least. Having lived in Morocco for three weeks now, I’ve noticed many things. One of my favorite observations is the history of coexistence that exists between Muslims, Jews, and Christians. Everywhere you go, you can find little reminders. In the synagogue in the heart of the Tangier Medina, one can also find qur’anic inscriptions hidden within the stucco and tile work. And this English church, for me, was the symbolic equivalent of this unity that existed for many years. It’s something that’s almost hard to imagine now given the current political global climate and tension. Walking up to the church, one might not even realize that it was a church. Built by Christians, it was built with a bell tower that resembles the classic architecture of North African mosque minarets. Venturing into the church, the set up appears as with most churches. But upon closer inspection, one can notice that there is qur’anic inscription all around the front archway of Moorish design. Next to the church, is a board gifted by the Jewish members for displaying Biblical hymn and psalm numbers, with the star of David present. The groundskeeper also informed us that Jews, Muslims, and Christians would share the church to hold religious services, and you would often find Jews and Muslims paying respect and partaking in Christian services with their Christian counterparts. The unity and love that this church holds in its history is an example of what the world could be. It’s heartwarming and makes one hopeful for a future where this type of relationship and coexistence can be mimicked on a global scale.
