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RAS MORBAT, Eye & Medical Clinics - click here for further information

Christ Church, Aden was built in 1863 as the garrison church for British Forces in Aden, with Queen Victoria as one of the first benefactors. It remained active until 1970 when, following the British withdrawal in 1967, the Communist Government of South Yemen requisitioned the building. It was then used as a storage facility, and later a Gymnasium, until the reunification of North and South Yemen in 1990.

From 1987 until 1993 the then Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf, John Brown, was in negotiations with the Government of South Yemen, and subsequently the united Republic of Yemen for the restoration of the Church to the diocese. A combination of an agreement that the Church would build, fund and run a medical clinic for mothers and babies, and a fatwa issued by the Grand Mufti of the Yemen ordering that Christians should be permitted to worship freely (just as ‘Muslims are permitted in Britain’) clinched the matter, and the Church was restored, finally being rededicated in 1997.

Both the Church and the clinics have come on greatly, through the leadership of successive Chaplains/Directors, and under the guidance of Bishop John’s successors. For more information on how the work of the clinic developed, click here.

The Church has a vibrant and multi-national regular congregation of expatriates, as well as the constant visitors just ‘passing through’ (from the Port, from visitors to the country, and from expatriates living in other cities), and worships at 10 AM on a Friday.

The Chaplain to Christ Church, Aden is also the agent of Mission to Seafarers in the Port of Aden. On a week-by-week basis, this work involves pastoral ship-visiting (one sailor told the current Chaplain, Revd. Peter Crooks, that the Mission to Seafarers agents were the only people who ever came on board ship not wanting something for themselves), although from time to time there are more challenging issues to deal with. In particular, entire crews are frequently abandoned at the Port of Aden without pay, sometimes reaching into the tens of thousands of dollars (US) for an individual.
 

Pray for the Rev'd Peter and Nancy Crooks, and all those who through their  loving service
to the people of Yemen show the love of God, that they might have His protection and know
His peace always.