Salford opens multifaith centre
Monday 27 March 2017
SALFORD’s university community can worship and socialize together in a new purpose-built multi-faith centre.
The new centre, next to Salford Crescent Station, offers facilities to Muslims, Christian and Jews under a single roof at the University’s main Peel Park campus.
And faith leaders believe they will be sharing the new space with ‘like-minded individuals’ in a mutual spirit of respect.
The faith centre, which cost £890,000 to kit out, has already welcomed hundreds of people through its doors.
Rabbi Ephraim Guttentag, the Jewish Chaplain at the University, said: “We have so much in common between the various religions, and when people come here to celebrate and practice their own religion, they are also meeting like-minded individuals in the centre.”
Iman Rashid Musa, Muslim chaplain for the University said: “This superb multi-faith centre is one of the best facilities for Muslim students in the North West, and this is something that many prospective students find appealing.”
Catering for Salford’s large Muslim population, the centre provides large prayer halls, and traditional ablution facilities for both men and women.
Jewish staff and students can take advantage of the purpose-built Kosher kitchen.
Rabbi Ephraim Guttentag, said: “We have a growing Jewish society here at the University and this is our way of supporting Jewish students, especially the very religious ones. The Kosher kitchen is amazing. It means that people can come and prepare and have their lunch in a Kosher environment. This hasn’t been provided before, and it is a small gesture but it makes a big difference for Jewish students.”
Christian students and staff can practice their faith in the new Christian chapel, which seats dozens of people and holds regular services.
Non-religious members of the University community can also come to the faith centre and use the shared kitchen, or spend some time in the quiet room for meditation and reflection.
The faith centre also offers the University’s first gender neutral toilet facility, which fits in with the University’s aim of becoming the first trans-friendly University in England.
The building has recently been shortlisted for a Royal Institute of Surveyors design award, for enhancing the student community.
Rev Kim Wasey added: “We have more in common that what divides us. This is a really good opportunity to model the way that people of faith can work, share and collaborate together in their observance of faith. Just as we do in every aspect of our lives we work alongside one another and we study alongside one another. It’s great that we show that we can worship and pray alongside one another to”.
The University is now looking at additional facilities specific for people of other faiths.
Find out more
Victoria Barker
0161 295 4779
