Historic Moscow church launches multi-million pound appeal

An Anglican church which forms a fundamental part of Moscow's architectural history is launching a £4 million international appeal on Tuesday to restore the building to its former glory.

St Andrew's church is the only example of English Gothic architecture in the Russian Federation. It is protected as an historic architectural monument by the Moscow Historic Monuments Commission. The property, a mere 10 minute walk from the Kremlin, houses a three-story parsonage, of distinct Victorian style which will be included in the restoration project.

A charitable trust, "Friends of St Andrew's Moscow" has been organised in the United Kingdom under the auspices of the Anglican Diocese in Europe. Construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2009, first on the church, and then the parsonage with completion by the end of 2012.

St Andrews is much more than a church building. It is home to the Russian Orphan Opportunity Fund which provides secondary educational tutoring for young Russian adults and also to the Old World Foundation which counsels former narcotics abusers and their families to keep them off drugs.

St Andrew's Theological Institute Library, a Moscow-based Russian Orthodox organisation maintains its library in St. Andrew's tower. It is reputed to be the largest collection of English language theology books in Russia.

St Andrew's Church is home also to Moscow's only English-language Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings.

Musically, St Andrew's Gothic structure claims its place as one of the best musical venues acoustically after the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. There are weekly classical concerts performed to large audiences by Russian musicians. St Andrew's is also home to the Moscow International Choir and the British Women's Club's "Mellow Divas".

At the launch will be the UK Ambassador to Russia, Sir Anthony Brenton, Chaplain of the St Andrews, Canon Dr Simon Stephens, and Pat Davis Szymczak, Chair of Restoration and head of Eurasia Press Inc.