Right Reverend Geoffrey Rowell, Anglican Bishop of Gibraltar, conducted services to bless the new St. Thomas’ Anglican Church recently erected in the village of Kefalas, near Hania.

The church, built in the style of a traditional Cretan chapel with outdoor worship area for summer use, is the only one in Crete and the first to be built in Greece since St Andrew’s in Patra some 145 years ago.

Bishop Rowell also marked the occasion to license Tony Lane and David Lancaster Smith as Readers in the Anglican Diocese in Europe.

Mr. Lane, who together with his wife had been holding services in their living room until the congregation became too big, was instrumental in designing and building the church which features a stained glass picture of Christ walking on the water and calming the storm.

Anglicanism is rooted in the beliefs and practices of Christian churches which either have historical connections with the Church of England or maintain a liturgy compatible with it.

Among those attending the church blessing ceremonies were British Ambassador Simon Gass, and representatives of the Orthodox and Catholic churches in Crete.