Al Shehhi, the Director of the Abrahamic Family house and Sir David Adjaye, the architect who designed and built the House. The church faces the direction of the rising sun, as light is considered symbolic of divinity. Its forest of columns is orientated in this direction to maximise the eastern light and emphasises verticality to express the concepts of incarnation (or descent) and resurrection (or ascent) that are central to the Christian faith. The timber battens are inspired by rays of light and reference the altar at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. More than 13,000 linear metres of timber form the church's vaulting. See also Abrahamic Family House Document on Human Fraternity External links Official website First Prayer Service Address of Cardinal Michael L. Fitzgerald Thanksgiving speech by Bishop Paolo Martinell References Religion in Abu Dhabi Buildings and structures in Abu Dhabi Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia Abrahamic Family House