Faith
Faith coronavirus changes
We are delighted to be able to re-open the Faith Centre for personal prayer and reflection. We have made some changes to ensure the space is compliant with COVID-19 safety regulations and a full risk assessment for our faith provision has been undertaken.
Opening Hours
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The Faith Centre will be open from 9am – 7pm, Monday to Friday. The building will be closed at the weekend.
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The Quiet Rooms around campus will be open in line with building opening times.
The Chaplains
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The Chaplains remain available virtually, during their working hours, to staff and students and can be contacted via Teams or their email address. You can book an appointment with a Chaplain for through Advantage.
Faith Centre changes to facilities
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All users must swipe in and out using their staff or student ID card to gain access to the building throughout the day.
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Unfortunately, the building is not available for community use at this time.
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All users are encouraged to use the QR code displayed in the entrance to support NHS Track and Trace.
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The social space has been closed.
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The community kitchen has been closed but the Kosher kitchen remains available with a single occupancy restriction.
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Wherever possible, ablutions should be undertaken at home to reduce touchpoints and delays for those who cannot ablute at home. The ablutions are still available with reduced occupancy.
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The Chapel and Prayer Hall are open with social distancing measures in place reducing capacity.
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No holy books will be available to use.
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Furniture should not be moved within this space.
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There are no bookable meeting rooms.
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The Quiet Room remains open for quiet contemplation, with single occupancy only.
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Seats have been provided to use only whilst taking your shoes off and putting them back on.
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The shoe racks have been closed. Please use your own bags to keep your shoes and other belongings with you whilst you pray.
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Friday prayers will take place at an alternative venue from 2nd October 2020.
Quiet Rooms in Allerton, Maxwell and MCUK
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All Quiet Rooms are now single occupancy only. If a Quiet Room is not free, please wait outside the room until it becomes free or return later.
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Follow all guidance for cleaning and room use as displayed inside and outside the room.
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No pray mats or religious books will be available. Bring your own and take home with you.
Personal safety in all Faith spaces
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Please use hand sanitiser as you enter and as you leave this space.
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Please observe social distancing at all times.
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You must wear a face covering at all times within the Faith Centre.
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To ensure social distancing, you should only pray in the designated spaces.
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Please keep all belongings with you at all times (including your shoes in a plastic bag).
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Please clean touch points before and after use with the cleaning equipment provided.
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Windows must remain open at all times.
The Faith Centre is open to everyone, regardless of your beliefs. We offer unique spaces for group worship, private prayer, personal reflection, social activities, pastoral support and relaxation.
We believe in providing a supportive context in which all students and staff of any belief system or religious, philosophical and cultural background can explore new ideas and experiences and engage critically with each other in a respectful learning environment.
The Faith Centre
The Faith Centre is located on Peel Park campus right near accommodation. The space has its own Chapel and a large Muslim Prayer Hall with Ablution facilities for men and women. You can also find:
- Communal kitchens including a Kosher kitchen
- A social space
- A quiet room
- Multi-Faith room
- Bookable spaces and meeting rooms
- Gender-neutral and accessible toilets
- Chaplains’ offices
We also play host to events and activities for both faith and non-faith groups such as craft groups, societies, therapeutic counselling and mindfulness sessions.
Our Faith Centre offers a unique space in the University for all groups to build positive relationships, including if you:
- Are of faith or follow a religion
- Are questioning, seeking, agnostic
- Prefer not to define your spirituality in a specific way
- Are not religious or have no faith
We gratefully accept donations to support the activities of the Faith Centre.
Faith resources
- Policies and agreements
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Faith Statement and Agreement - May - 17 UoS-Faith-Statement-and-Agreement-May-17-V1-0.pdf - Freedom of Speech Policy
- Freedom of Speech Application Form
- Faith Centre Confidentiality Statement
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- Events and activities
- General Faith resources
Upcoming events
We hold regular events during term time as well as one-off events. Keep an eye on our calendar to see what’s coming up. All Faith Centre activities are remaining virtual until the Faith Centre can open safely. More frequent events will be held once we return to campus.
- Regular Thursday Holy Communion Service (Anglican / Church of England) at 1pm
An online half-hour service, which is a time of prayer and reflection followed by social conversation for those who are able to stay longer. Both students and staff are welcome to attend.
Email faithcentre@salford.ac.uk for the link to the online event. - Faith-based societies through the Students’ Union are organising their own online events
Find a society: https://www.salfordstudents.com/societies/culture - Find more information on the University Jewish Society working with Rabbi Danny Bergson on their Facebook page
- Contact Chaplains directly for a chat or a virtual meeting request
Our staff
Our Chaplains and support team are appointed to serve all members of the University, whatever your convictions or beliefs. You can talk to a Chaplain about anything you like – we don’t just do religion – and all conversations are confidential. You can find out more in our Confidentiality Statement.
You are welcome to drop in at any time during opening hours and you can always contact us on faithcentre@salford.ac.uk or by using our Chaplains’ listed email addresses and phone numbers.
The Chaplaincy offers you:
- Confidential advice and a ‘safe space’ to talk
- Spiritual help at times of need or if you’d just like to explore ideas
- Friendship and support
- Information on places of worship for all faiths
Resident Chaplains
Sister Teresa Wild
Catholic Chaplain
Phone: 0161 295 5961
Email: t.wild@salford.ac.uk
Bio: I am a Franciscan Missionary of St Joseph and belong to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford. I enjoy meeting students and staff in the Faith Centre and around the campus. I like classical music and various crafts. I am interested in aspects of social justice and care of the environment. My office is on the first floor of the Faith Centre (FC116) at the top of the stairs from the main entrance. You are all very welcome to call in to say hello.
Imam Rashid Musa
Muslim Chaplain
Phone: 0161 295 2683
Email: r.musa@salford.ac.uk
Bio: Hi, I'm Imam Rashid, the Muslim chaplain. I have worked extensively in both academic and support capacities in F.E. and H.E. and in various prison and hospital chaplaincies. In addition to my role as a Chaplain, I also lecture for different departments here at Salford and at religious and educational institutes across the country and abroad.
As part of the chaplaincy team, we are all committed to help and support all staff and students of any faith and no faith and my role as the Muslim Chaplain involves representing Islam within the University community, raising awareness of Muslim students and staff, and identifying and responding to their specific pastoral, cultural and spiritual needs.
My hobby is following the premier league and I look forward to annual visits to the holy lands with my family. I cherish being visited by any member of our University community over a cup of tea or coffee at my office.
Reverend Helen Tomlinson
Anglican/Church of England Chaplain
Phone: 0161 295 4660
Email: h.tomlinson2@salford.ac.uk
Bio: Hi. My name is Helen and I am the Anglican Chaplain here at the university Faith Centre. As part of a multi-faith team, we offer support to both students and staff of any faith or none. I was ordained priest in 2008 in the Manchester Diocese and have previously worked as a chaplain at the Christie Hospital. I am also part of North Manchester deanery ministry team. When not working, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, walking, gardening and occasionally strumming my guitar. I am happy to listen, chat and offer spiritual support to students or staff members accompanied by a brew and a biscuit!
Associate Chaplains
Rabbi Danny Bergson
Jewish Chaplain
Phone: 07917 548 386
Email: rabbidanny@mychaplaincy.co.uk
Bio: Danny is the Chaplain to the Jewish Students in the Manchester Region under the University Jewish Chaplaincy. Danny has been a Congregational Rabbi since 2009 and brings his pastoral experience into his work with students.
Danny holds a degree in Computer Science from the University of Manchester and so is particularly delighted to be able to give back to students providing you opportunities to connect with and explore your identity as well as supporting you through any challenges whilst at university. Danny is also a passionate musician, singing and playing guitar.
Father Frankie Mulgrew
Catholic Chaplain
Phone: 0161 736 1935
Email: f.w.mulgrew@salford.ac.uk
Fr Frankie Mulgrew is a former professional entertainer and a priest of the Diocese of Salford. He is a Parish Priest of St James and All Souls, Salford and the Catholic priest chaplain to the University. He has been fortunate to compile and edit the books 'Does God LOL?' and 'Miracles R Us' and he helped set-up and run a Mercy Bus in the Salford Diocese during the Year of Mercy.
Sandra Dutson
Quaker Chaplain
Email: s.m.dutson@salford.ac.uk
Bio: I am Sandra and recently joined the multi-faith team as Quaker chaplain. I particularly appreciate the Quaker emphasis on action and reflection and a holistic approach to life. I am widowed, mother of two daughters and have three grandchildren still at school and feel I have lot of life experience. My degree from around 50 years ago was from Keele University but this gave me a lifelong interest in studying a wide range of subjects, including recently undertaken modules about the environment and politics with the Open University. I belong to Quaker Social Justice and Peace promotion groups and am exploring now my role in the University, at present by walking around campus and getting a feel for Salford University life.
Monesha Simoes Jones
Buddhist Chaplain
Email: m.s.jones@salford.ac.uk
Bio: Monesha is our Buddhist chaplain. She is here to support staff and students who are seeking to know more about the philosophy & practice of Buddhism . Most crucially to build friendship and peace through trust.
Monesha originally hails from India and has a BA degree in Economics. She has been a long standing member and leader within SGI (Soka Gakkai International) seeking to create lasting happiness by upholding the preciousness of human life. She has lived in India, Dubai and England. She is keen to help staff and students truly believe in their limitless potential. Holistic wellbeing is of enormous interest to Monesha as she is a keen yogi and believes in the power of Yoga and Meditation to calm the mind.
Volunteer Chaplains
Neil Salmon
Christian Chaplain in MediaCityUK campus
Room 3.26
Phone: 0161 295 6065
Email: n.salmon@salford.ac.uk
Bio: Hello, I’m Neil and I’m the Christian Chaplain at the MediaCityUK Campus. I also work for the University as a Broadcast Production Team Leader and can be found in room 3.26.
I’m an active member of my local church and am a Lay Pastoral Minister in the Diocese of Leeds.
Even though I am a Christian Chaplain, I am here for those of all faiths as well as those who have no faith. I believe that as a Chaplain, I can help staff and students, I can be a listening ear and offer spiritual support in good times and in not so good times.
To relax, I enjoy playing darts, although I’m not very good! I can also be found sampling real ale in a local pub.
If you’d like to be a volunteer chaplain then we’d love to hear from you. We’re keen to engage with communities that aren’t currently represented in our team as we develop services and offer students and staff a diverse and cohesive experience at the Faith Centre. Please contact us at faithcentre@salford.ac.uk for more information.
Faith Centre colleagues
Hilary Hill
Faith Centre Coordinator
Phone: 0161 295 4432
Email: faithcentre@salford.ac.uk
Our spaces
We have various facilities across campus to meet the faith requirements of our university community.
- Peel Park campus
- Faith Centre, University Road (behind Chapman Building)
Rooms: Chaplains’ offices, Chapel, Muslim Prayer Hall and Ablution facilities, quiet room, social space, kitchens, Multi-Faith Room, meeting rooms FC111 and FC112
Opening hours: Faith Centre is currently closed for visits. We are operating virtually. - Maxwell Building
Quiet Room 206
Opening hours are the same as the building opening hours
- Faith Centre, University Road (behind Chapman Building)
- Frederick Road campus
- Allerton Building
Quiet Rooms 321 and 324
Opening hours are the same as the building opening hours
- Allerton Building
- MediaCityUK campus
- MCUK Building
Quiet Room 324
Opening hours are the same as the building opening hours
- MCUK Building
Making a room booking
We welcome all students and staff to use the faith spaces for faith-based activities. While the rooms exist for all to use, only meeting rooms FC111, FC112, Multi-Faith room are bookable.
Please note that this is a shared resource and is available on a first request, first served basis and the rooms may be unavailable at the times that you would like to use them.
If you would like to book the Chaplaincy or Faith Centre for a faith-based activity please contact the Faith Team at faithcentre@salford.ac.uk.