Muslims buy church in UK
Only 15 percent of Britons go to church at least once a month, according to a 2007 survey.
LONDON (AA) - St. Peter's Catholic Church in Stoke-on-Trent in the UK was sold to Muslims after closing its doors due to the shrinking congregation.
Muslims bought the church after its closure, according to news reports in the British press.
Leaders of the church stated Christians in the area could now attend another church nearby and money from the sale would be used to benefit parishioners.
Despite the identity of the buyers remaining undisclosed, a spokesman for the church said a modest number of offers had been received but a local Muslim community made the best offer.
"The number of Catholics living in the area has shrunk recently," said the spokesman, adding, "The Archdiocese of Birmingham has over 200 parish churches and an estimated Catholic population of over 285,000."
A 2007 survey in the UK discovered that only 15 percent of Britons go to church at least once a month. Other research revealed the UK has one of the lowest rate of church attendance in Europe.
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