def check_church(new_tile):
        surrounding_tiles = tile_to_check("Church", new_tile)

        points = 0

        if new_tile["Church"]:# is it itself a church that is now surrounded ?
                tiles_around = 0
                for tile in surrounding_tiles:
                        if not tile["Empty"]:
                                 tiles_around +=1
                if  tiles_around == 8: #so it is surrounded
                        points= 9

        #is the newly placed tile contributing to the closing of another tile that is a church tile ? First check if it is placed next to a tile church
        church_list_to_check =[]
        for tile in surrounding_tiles:
                if tile["Church"]:
                        church_list_to_check.append(tile)

        #second, check if these church tiles are now closed
        if church_list_to_check:
                for tile in church_list_to_check:
                        surrounding_tiles = tile_to_check("Church", tile)
                        tiles_around = 0
                        for tile in surrounding_tiles:
                                if not tile["Empty"]:
                                         tiles_around +=1
                        if  tiles_around == 8: #so it is surrounded
                                points+= 9

        return points