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Reachout Trust 24 Ormond Road Richmond Surrey TW10 6TH England Phone & Fax: 0845 241 2158 E-mail A company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales, number 4162936. A registered charity number 1087085

On the BBC Local News on 24 November, Gordon Burns introduced an item with; "When is a church not a church? When it is a Mormon Temple."

It appears that the Temple at Chorley has been ordered to pay Rates [or Council Tax], having hitherto been exempted by the local council because of its status as a church.

A Judge has decreed that, as the Temple is not freely open to the public for worship, it does not qualify as a church, therefore cannot be exempt from paying.

Only a small thing, perhaps, but the BBC reported that it had "deeply shocked" the Mormon leadership.

See also:

http://www.lep.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=73&ArticleID=1898273

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