A fun run and funfair will take place in Tilford on Sunday to raise funds towards a new ceiling at 150 year old All Saints Church.

The Mubarak Mosque in Tilford has joined arms with the village church, All Saints, in a bid to contribute towards the replacement of the ceiling.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA), representing Mubarak Mosque, is organising a run on Sunday, September 25 to raise funds towards this cause.

This unique interfaith event will see church congregants, local school children, villagers including hundreds of young Muslims and Imams, taking part in the run.

A funfair will also be running on the same day and all proceeds will go to the church.

After part of All Saints’ ceiling fell down in October 2021, it was discovered that £110,000 was required to replace the entire ceiling which was deemed unsafe.

AMYA are helping to organise the event to raise a portion of the amount, as part of its ‘Mercy 4 Mankind’ initiative, which celebrates the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.

Luqman Bajwa, the national vice president of the AMYA and the lead organiser of the Mercy 4 Mankind charity events, said: “Our flagship ‘Mercy 4 Mankind’ event has been going on for years and we have raised millions of pounds for British charities.

“However, this is something unique and special. To see the local church back to its full glory, in the village where the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s International Headquarters is based and our Caliph, the worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community resides, will be very rewarding for all of us.

“It has been great to work with the Church on this project. Helping to rebuild a church for us as Muslims is something that is motivated by the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who instructed Muslims to protect all places of worship.”

Charlotte Mathias, the organiser and church treasurer, added: “The church sits at the heart of our village and is not only an important place of worship but a local heritage asset. The burden of finding the money to carry out the extensive work on the church ceiling falls entirely on the parish and is quite a daunting task!

“We are delighted to be hosting this event with our friends and neighbours from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. I hope this occasion will give us the opportunity to shine a light on how religious harmony can bring people together.”

Anyone wishing to participate in the run or funfair can register via the following link: https://mercy4mankind.org/tilford-village-fundraiser-2022/