Interfaith Week 2011 took place across England and Wales from 20 to 26 November. The aims of the Week were to strengthen good inter faith relations at all levels; to increase awareness of the different and distinct faith communities in the UK, in particular celebrating and building on the contribution which their members make to their neighbourhoods and to wider society; and to increase understanding between people of religious and non-religious belief. This was the third time such a Week took place in England and Wales. It built on the very successful pattern of events held in 2009 and 2010 which ranged from social action events, to discussions and dialogues, inter faith football matches, meals, inter faith walks and pilgrimages, festivals and celebrations, tree plantings, exhibitions, concerts, film festivals, activities in schools and other institutions. See Interfaith Week 2009 and Interfaith Week 2010 for reports of events held.
SATURDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2011
SUNDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2011
Faith Fair and Celebration of Community, Faith in everyday life, 2.00 - 5.00pm, Cambridge
Cambridge Inter-Faith Group has arranged a combined Faith Fair and Celebration of Community for Sunday afternoon, the first day of National Inter Faith Week. Faith groups and faith organisations are invited to book a stall and/or request to have a speaker included. This event will be held at the Meadows Community Centre, 1 St Catharine's Road, Cambridge CB4 3XJ. There is free entry, refreshments and parking although stallholders will be charged £5 per stall.
Celebration of Community will commence at 2.00pm with the Mayor of Cambridge as the first speaker.
Contact David Wilman, (Chair and Secretary Cambridge Inter-Faith Group) or telephone 01223 276912 for more information.
Annual Interfaith Pilgrimage, 2.00pm, Watford
This increasingly popular annual event organised by the Watford Interfaith Association will start at the Watford and Distict Synagogue, Nascot Road, Watford calling at five places of worship in Watford town centre.
For more information contact
Judith Bruni, Secretary of Watford Interfaith Association or telephone 01923 774812.
Mayor's Multi-Faith Celebration of Community, 3.00 - 4.15pm, Ipswich
The Mayor's Multi-Faith Celebration of Community is taking place in the Council Chamber of Ipswich Town Hall with the theme of social inclusion. This event is being organised by SIFRE along with other local groups in celebration of National Inter-Faith week.
Contact the Inter-Faith Centre on 01473 233447 for more information.
MONDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2011
Faiths in Focus Congress, 11.00am - 1.00pm, Ipswich
This event organised by SIFRE along with other local groups will focus on Faiths of Suffolk - Community Builders asking Who are we and What can we offer. This event will be held at Endeavour House, Suffolk County Council Headquarters, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich IP1 2BX.
Contact the Inter-Faith Centre on 01473 233447 for more information.
Display of Faith Artefacts, 12.00pm - 2.00pm, Ipswich
This event organised by SIFRE along with other local groups will be in the Atrium of Suffolk New College and is primarily aimed at SNC students and staff.
Contact the Inter-Faith Centre on 01473 233447 for more information.
Hospital Celebration - Faiths in Healthcare, 3.00pm - 5.00pm, Ipswich
This event organised by SIFRE along with other local groups has the theme of 'Spirituality and being human - how does my faith help me to be human and will be in the Old Nursing Library of Heath Road Hospital, Ipswich.
Contact the Inter-Faith Centre on 01473 233447 for more information.
Launch of Luton as a Fairtrade Town, 7.00pm - 9.00pm, Luton
Luton Council of Faiths has organised this launch which will take place in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Upper George Street, Luton LU1 2BQ with guest speaker Harriet Lamb, Director of Fairtrade Foundation.
For more information contact David Jonathan by email or telephone 01582 416946.
Share your faith and food, 7.00pm onwards, Braintree
Braintree District Inter Faith Forum (B-Diff) are hosting this event at the Alec Hunter Learning Village, Stubbs Lane, Braintree, CM7 3NR. Come along to discover more about each other's faith and foods and for an enjoyable time together.
If you would like to attend or want to know more about B-Diff, please contact Cliff Broadhurst by
email or telephone 01376 323069.
TUESDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2011
Official Opening of the new Inter-Faith Centre, 10.00am - 4.30pm, Ipswich
Contact the Inter-Faith Centre on 01473 233447 for more information.
Display of Faith Artefacts, 12.00pm - 2.00pm, Ipswich
This event organised by SIFRE along with other local groups will be in the Foyer of the Waterfront Building of UCS and is primarily for UCS students and staff.
Contact the Inter-Faith Centre on 01473 233447 for more information.
SIFRE / UCS Faith Lecture, 5.45pm - 7.30pm, Ipswich
'Jesus the Jew' - Rabbi Danny Rich at the Waterfront Building, UCS. Admission is by invitation only from UCS.
Contact the Inter-Faith Centre on 01473 233447 for more information.
Public screening of the film The Imam and the Pastor, 7.00pm - 9.30pm, Luton
Organised by Luton Council of Faiths and Grassroots, this screening will take place at the Hat Factory, 65-67 Bute Street, Luton LU1 2EY.
The video documents the story of Pastor James Movel Wuye and Imam Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, how they journeyed from enmity to friendship.
There will be time before the screening to mingle and have refreshments and afterwards time for participants to share their response and exchange views.
Limited seats are available to please book early by email or telephone 01582 416946.
An Inter-Faith "Any Questions", 7.15pm, Fakenham
Organised by the Central Norfolk Methodist Circuit, "Any Questions" will be held in Fakenham Methodist Church. Panel members will be from the three
Abrahamic faiths - Revd. Graham Thompson (Christian), Ms Donna Semmens (Jewish) and Mr Sohale Rahman (Muslim).
Questions to the panel are invited and should be submitted in advance to the Chair, Revd Andrew King by email or by telephoning 01328 862 174.
WEDNESDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2011
Storytelling performance - 'When Abel met Cain', Bury St Edmunds
2.30pm - 4.00pm and 7.30pm - 9.00pm,
A storytelling event with Raphael Rodan organised by SIFRE along with other local groups. The event will be held at the URC Church, Bury St Edmunds.
Contact the Inter-Faith Centre on 01473 233447 for more information.
A Celebration of Faith, 5.00pm - 7.30pm, Borehamwood
Hertsmere Forum of Faiths is holding a Celebration of Faith at the Manor House (Allum Hall), 2 Allum Lane, Elstree, Borehamwod.
The Mayor of Hertsmere will give the welcome. There will be performances by local faith schools, choirs from local faith organisations, music,
dance and drama and cultural foods to taste. Come and see All Saints Church, Bhaktivedanta Manor, Borehamwood Community Shop,
Borehamwood Islamic Society, Borehamwood Muslim Community Centre, Hertsmere Jewish Primary School, Immanuel College, Nicholas Breakspeare School,
St Michael's Church, St Nicholas School, St Teresa's School, South Herts Buddhists, Yavneh College and YCW. Admission is free and there will
be a collection for Mayor's charities.
For more information contact suzannelynn@o2.co.uk.
Celebrate Inter-faith Week, 7pm - 8 pm at Cavell Centre, City Hospital, Peterborough
For more information, contact Sue Rampal at Mental Health Trust 07432 614008 or email
Sue Rampal
"Jesus the Jew", 7.30pm, Norwich
Norwich Interfaith Link have organised this meeting to be held in the Octagon Unitarian Chapel, Colegate, Norwich (just off Magdalen Street) when Rabbi Danny Rich, Chief Executive of Liberal Judaism, will examine the role of Jesus, as understood from his Liberal Jewish perspective. He will ask what we know about the historic Jesus and whether Jews can entertain other claims about him. Please note there is no parking at the Chapel. There will be a charge of £3.00 to include refreshments.
For more information telephone 01603 667 314.
THURSDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2011
Faith Leaders Conference, 9.30am - 1.00pm, Purfleet, Essex
Supported by Thurrock Council, Thurrock Faith Matters are organising this conference at High House Production Park, Vellacott Close, Purfleet, Essex RM19 1RJ. Speakers include Rev Darren Barlow, David Jonathan, Councillor John Kent and Councillor Phil Anderson.
To avoid disappointment please book early as places are limited.
For more information contact the Corporate Diversity Team
or telephone 01375 652472.
A day of activities on the theme of kindness and compassion, Colchester
9.30am Primary school children, 1.30pm Secondary school children.
Organised by the East of England Faiths Agency and the North East Essex Faiths Forum the Mayor of Colchester will open this event at Moot Hall, High Street, Colchester CO1 1PJ.
For more information contact Chris Blomeley on 07799494797.
Launch of the Interfaith Council of Huntingdonshire (ICHD), 6.30pm - 8.30pm, Huntingdon
This is a Joint Civic reception, by invitation only, for the Launch of the Interfaith Council of Huntingdonshire and District at Pathfinder House, Huntingdon.
For more information contact Dan Smith
or telephone 01480 388377.
Should religious education be taught in a secular society? 7.00pm - 9.30pm, Chelmsford
Dr Heather Meacock will be giving this talk exploring questions such as 'should we campaign for a completely new and unbiased Religious Education syllabus that is part of the National Curriculum and how much input should religious groups have in religious education syllabus'? Should this be determined by independent academics without a religious agenda? After the talk participants will be invited to ask questions and gain further insight from an inter-faith panel on their views from their own faith perspective. The talk will be at the Lord Ashcroft Building, Anglia Ruskin University, Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford CM1 1SQ. Afterwards there will be a free buffet and drinks reception for networking.
For more information contact Rachel Moss on 0845 196 4723 or visit
Anglia Ruskin University Community website.
A Walk of Faith for the people of Colchester, 7.30pm, Colchester
This event is open to all and is an opportunity to explore the many different places of worship in the town centre of Colchester. At the Moot Hall, High Street, Colchester CO1 1PJ, Quaker, Free Church, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist, each has agreed to open the doors to their places of worship for you to explore who your 'spiritual neighbour' is. The evening will begin with Dances of Universal Peace, local artists will display work on the theme of kindness and compassion and you can listen to Sufi and christian poets from Colchester. Watch a dramatisation of good and evil, right and wrong, heaven and hell.
For more information contact Chris Blomeley on 07799494797 or see local press for more details.
FRIDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2011
Display of Faith Artefacts, 12.00pm - 2.00pm, Ipswich
This event organised by SIFRE along with other local groups will be in the Arts Block of UCS and is primarily for UCS students and staff.
Contact the Inter-Faith Centre on 01473 233447 for more information.
Film screening and discussion at John Clare Theatre, Peterborough, starting at 6.15pm
"Blessed Saint Mary" documentary. For more information, please contact the organisers Husaini Islamic Centre on 07846 884600 or email
StMaryFilm@live.co.uk
The United Nations' Children's Inter-Faith event, 7.30pm, Peterborough
Peterborough Cathedral’s annual inter-faith celebration with the theme of peace and how different religions can contribute towards this.
All are welcome, no ticket required.
For more information, please contact the
Cathedral Office or telephone 01733 343342 or email the organisers, Peterborough
Interfaith Council
Brian Keegan
Celebration of the Rainbow Nations in Wisbech, 7.30pm - 10.00pm
The Rosmini Centre, 59 Queens Road, Wisbech PE13 2PH.
Opening by the Mayor of Wisbech, Councillor Jonathan Farmer. Prices: £2 per adult, children go free. Tickets available from the Rosmini Centre 01945 474422.
Wear your national costume and come along to entertain and be entertained. Singing, dancing, food and lots more.
SATURDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2011
Places of Worship Open Day, 10.00am - 4.00pm, Ipswich
This event, a Religious Heritage Trail is organised by SIFRE and will be held in Ipswich Town Centre where places of worship will be open to receive visitors. Tours will be arranged starting from the Long Street car park of UCS. Suffolk Constabulary have offered to provide a minibus to transport visitors between venues. To secure a place in the Police minibus, call Anna-Marie on 01473 233447 to register your name. The number of places will be limited so booking is advisable. There will also be a walking tour of sacred spaces on the Waterfront.
Contact the Inter-Faith Centre on 01473 233447 for more information.
Luton in Harmony: Challenges & Prospects, Let's Face it Together,
11.30am - 4.30pm, Luton
This seminar is to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Luton Council of Faiths and is in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire. The seminar will be at the Tree House, University of Bedfordshire, Luton, LU1 3EY and will include lunch at 1.15pm.
You will need to confirm a place by Friday 17 November by emailing
Luton Council of Faiths or by calling 01582 547866.
Lowestoft and Waveney Circle: Unity in Diversity, 7.00pm - 9.30pm, Lowestoft
Organised by SIFRE, the Unity will be the company of friends from different faith and cultural backgrounds and the Diversity is the board game that will entertain us and hopefully leave us all knowing and understanding a little more about each others' lives and beliefs. The evening will start with a light supper and soft drinks.
Contact the Inter-Faith Centre on 01473 233447 for more information.
Launch event - Ipswich Town of Sanctuary, 7.30pm - 10.00pm, Ipswich
Supported by SIFRE, this event will be held at the Waterfront of UCS, Ipswich.
Contact Melissa Day on 07861 758739 for more information.
