News

Buddhist monastery to open in Aldershot

By Amy Taylor
January 04, 2013

A BUDDHIST monastery could soon be opened in Aldershot after a successful fundraising effort by the Buddhist Community Centre UK (BCCUK), which has raised £400,000 for the project.

It would be the first of its kind in the town, with members previously having to travel to London or Oxford to worship.

The monastery is earmarked for the former BT sports and social club, next to Aldershot Town football stadium and by the site of the former fire station.

BCCUK, which was registered as an official charity in 2011, has managed to drum up the £400,000 purchase price to buy the building from previous owners Telereal Trillium.

Damar Ghale, spokesman for BCCUK, said the money was raised largely by a team of more than 250 trustees, each of whom contributed a minimum of £1,000 to hold the position. The rest of the money has come from fundraising and interest-free loans set up by a friend of the charity.

“We introduced trustees in order to raise money more proactively and quickly,” said Mr Ghale. “Having a monastery is a necessity – we do not have a monastery or any form of prayers in the area so we need to facilitate a service for Buddhist people.”

Contracts were exchanged between Telereal Trillium and BCCUK just before Christmas and Mr Ghale confirmed they were now just waiting for the keys to be able to start work on converting the property.

Only internal modifications are required and permission for the change of use.

A monk to lead the monastery – and much of the community outreach work it will take part in – is already being lined up to come to Aldershot from Kathmandu, Nepal, with the aim to have a new monk on rotation every two years.

For more on this story, see this week's Aldershot News & Mail, out now.

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Most recent user comments 9 of 9

This is a fantastic thing to happen. I too have been waiting for the arrival of a centre for Buddhism locally.

SpongeBob NoPants, Farnborough
09/01/2013 at 11:19

maybe a lot of people don't say much any more because the uk is no longer the place for freedom of speech!

I just think their should be room for everyone to get on together instead of fighting, you only have to look around the world at everyone fighting about religion!

PJA
08/01/2013 at 11:37

I am very surprised that all the nutjobs aren't out in force ranting about a Nepalese takeover and complaining that a having a Buddhist monastery in Aldershot, the 'Home Of The British Army TM' is a sad indictment of modern Britain... but none of that, which can only be good.

I myself have been waiting for the appearance of a Buddhist place of worship in the area for quite a few years; the Nepalese (presumably Buddhist but I'm not sure) community hold several festivals throughout the year in Farnborough Rugby Club, and you can often hear them singing and partying from our garden.

BlisteringBarnacles! , Sheffield / Farnborough
08/01/2013 at 10:47

@ MarkofHants Why is it worth stating the obvious? Judaism is an ideology; Christianity is an ideology; Zoroastrianism is an ideology. Ideology does not nor ever has equated to a race...

Because to some people it is not obvious. They are thinking of bringing in a Nepalese monk mainly I suspect to serve the buddhist Nepalese community. It must be remembered that there are English converts to the Buddhist ideology some of them living in this area who may like to attend the new temple.

As for the spelling my keyboard is made in china and has difficulty with the English language

UKR
08/01/2013 at 00:35

UKR

Why is it worth stating the obvious? Judaism is an ideology; Christianity is an ideology; Zoroastrianism is an ideology. Ideology does not nor ever has equated to a race...

Spell checking is also worthy of consideration

MarkofHants, Fleet
07/01/2013 at 18:54

It is worth mentioning that Buddism like Islam, Judaism and Christianity are Idiologies and not races and as such a Buddhist monastry in this country will need a leader who can coverse with and lead followers who are not just from Nepal but also with others who have western origens

UKR
05/01/2013 at 20:29

I wonder if the area could support signifcant services / worhippers numbers coincident with match days next door.

Given Aldershot's "leadership" in the % of Buddhists registered (according to the census) it is not suprising that a monastery is planned.

Let us hope that there is an open door policy to help further with integration between Nepalese and other residents of Aldershot.

I too am surprised that a monk has to be brought from Nepal - I would have thought that there were many latent monks within the existing 9,000 or so Nepalese community.

Retired of Aldershot, Aldershot
05/01/2013 at 16:46

will this building be large enough

bluesy
04/01/2013 at 16:54

As a Christian I welcome the idea of a Buddhist monastry to serve this area, but I am concerned that it is planned to bring a monk from Nepal to lead the monastry as I think that it would be more appropiate that a westerised monk with the experience of the western way of life and the problems that some worshipers will face. Another faith has habitualy imported religous leaders from none western countries ofton none English speaking, this has led to problems with intergration as they have no understanding of the western way of life.