LIMERICK has officially gained a new place of worship in a protected city building following the granting of planning permission.
Winners Chapel International Limerick had applied to Limerick City and County Council for retention permission for their place of worship on O’Connell Street.
Winners Chapel International, a branch of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, was set up in the early 1980s in Nigeria.
Founded by David Oyedepo, the church teaches “Pentecostal values” with their 12 “pillars of faith”.
Since its foundation, the church has grown to over six million members worldwide, while founder and pastor David Oyedepo became one of the richest pastors in the world with an estimated net worth of $200million (€184million), according to Forbes Magazine.
Oyedepo was also mentioned in the controversial Pandora Papers in 2021 for his company Zadok Investments Limited, headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, a well-known tax haven for the super rich.
Winners Chapel had applied to Limerick City and County Council planners to retain their place of worship on 84 O’Connell Street, with council planners granting permission despite an objection from upstairs neighbours Kilmartin Education Services (KES).
KES objected on the grounds that the noise from the chapel’s services was disruptive to their students who were trying to study in a quiet environment.
According to the submission made by KES, very loud singing, dancing, and preaching could be heard during the chapel’s services, which, according to the group’s social media presences, take place on Sundays and Wednesdays.
Permission for the retention of the place of worship was granted by council planners subject to two conditions, one of which was that no amplified sound or music system should be used or installed on the premises.
Videos shared of the chapel’s services on social media show upbeat singing and dancing, as well as preaching and celebrating amongst the church’s active local community.
