Bath IFG at the first Bath Refugee Festival
Bath IFG supported the first Bath Refugee Festival, organised by Sudafest. Guests enjoyed inspiring speeches by the new Mayor of Bath Bharat Pankania, Abdullah Miri and others, and terrific Sudanese and Ukrainian food and music, in a perfect setting provided by Fairfield House, Home of HIM Emperor Haile Selassie.
A steady stream of visitors including refugees and new IFG members came to the Bath IFG table, sat with us, discussed matters of faith, and took information about various faith traditions available in Bath, while children did small crafts. These were deep, moving conversations. It was a really worthwhile and well-organised day.
Bath MP hears faith perspectives on assisted dying - video
Hear Bath faith perspectives on #assisteddying presented to our MP Wera Hobhouse, and her response.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL3xMqLyeb4
8 June 2025
Bath Abbey hosts inauguration of new Mayor and IFG Patron
Bath Abbey hosted the inauguration of the new Mayor of Bath Bharat Pankhania on Sat 7 2025. It was a joyous civic occasion and - as the new Mayor himself pointed out, to resounding applause in the Abbey - a celebration of diversity, equality and inclusion.
The Mayor of Bath is Patron of Bath inter faith group, along with the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset.
A medical doctor, senior clinical lecturer at Exeter University and visiting professor at Marjon University, the new Mayor was born Hindu to Gujurati-speaking parents from Kenya. He self-describes his leanings as more humanist-Quaker.
His chosen theme for the year is “education as empowerment”. He replaces outgoing Mayor Cllr Michelle O’Doherty, whose theme was “a home for all”.
Guests were welcomed to the Abbey, which sits at the heart of the community and is now after major refurbishment heated by water from Bath’s famous hot springs, by the Rector Guy Bridgewater. The Mayor’s chosen chaplain, the humanist Isabel Russo, spoke powerfully about compassion and integrity, common values which humanists share with the great faiths. It was a notable demonstration of shared values across different traditions, and of civic unity in face of common challenges.
Guests then departed the Abbey for a civic reception at the Guildhall to mark the start of an exciting year for our new Patron.
The Mayor’s speech and also the chaplain’s are worth reading in full. The Humanists UK press release is here.
Pictures: right: Mayor Bharat Pankhania. Below (l to r): the Abbey, the mayor's humanist chaplain Isabel Russo, reception at the Guildhall.
3 June 2025
Outgoing University chaplain Revd Nigel Rawlinson speech to Muslim students
Revd Nigel Rawlinson, outgoing University Chaplain and Interfaith Lead, spoke to a gathering held by Bath University Islamic Society (BUIS) at the Bath Mosque. Here is an abridged text of his speech.
For the last nine years, since starting here as University Chaplain, I regularly used the soundbite "I am a Christian Chaplain working on a secular campus in an interfaith way".
One of my first actions in 2017 was to form the University of Bath Interfaith Forum (UBIF) with the then Chair of BUIS. This was the launch of our interfaith thinking, and then the forming of the University of Bath Interfaith Community (UBIC) in 2022.
As I come to the end of my nine years, I wonder about two things:
First: are we secular? The amazing international community we have at the University is telling us something different, I think. People from other countries show that faith is still of foundational importance to them. Is the UK’s ‘secular tag’ therefore out of touch? Yes, I think so. I could say ‘Faith is back on the agenda’, but there we go – I am talking like “an Englishman”! For many, faith has never left the agenda.
Second; looking ahead, an interfaith understanding of each other is surely crucial for our survival, isn’t it?
When we have respect for each other, that brings hope – an existential hope.
On October 10th 2023, 3 days after the conflict in Gaza began, several students from the Islamic and Arab Committees came to see me, asking if they could meet their fellow Jewish students. They were declaring their total opposition to warfare as a way of resolving conflict. This year’s students have continued this philosophy. And, with the Lord Lieutenant, Mohammed Saddiq’s support, we have done it. They have met together with the Chair of the Jewish Society, who is also here today, and members of the that society. I know this was hard for some, but we did it.
In our present era we do not want bipolar politics. The yes/no approach causes so much division. The world is much more complex and nuanced than that.
The world is watching. We see the continuing horror of Gaza, reported by reliable third parties such as the English trained surgeon working there. The Israeli government is continuing to be driven by an Old Testament scriptural zeal.
In my faith tradition we are in a new, (New Testament) era. The scriptures from the early Old Testament in the daily readings set for the Christian church, and telling of the early Israelite history, have been hard to read recently.
Why is the world so impotent in stopping the Israeli government? This is in turn fuelling the next generation of Arab hatred. This will be a question we will have to ask in the future.
And then, this weekend (1-6-25), new war-talk. The British government is planning to invest in American warplanes armed with nuclear warheads. That is bonkers! So dangerous.
So, in conclusion, the interfaith understanding we have built at the University of Bath is one of the most fulfilling aspects of my nine years as University Chaplain. It is surely pointing to a new way – the only way - for my grandchildren and your children to enjoy a better world.
So, keep going please! Bring us oldies with you. I pledge my support.
With the Imam’s permission, can I pray? I will use a scripture written by King Solomon, and known to the Christian, Jewish, and Islamic faith traditions:
Psalm 127 verse 1 – Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
Dear God, the God we believe in…
We are building together,
We are watching out for each other – our fellow human beings…
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
Please help.
AMEN
31 May 2025
Bath MP hears faith perspectives on assisted dying
Wera Hobhouse MP heard a diverse range of faith perspectives on assisted dying on 29 May in an intense, often passionate and always respectful conversation organised by Bath inter faith group.
As draft legislation approaches its second reading we heard about suffering, the sanctity of life, legal jeopardy for professionals and loved ones and the "slippery slope" of permissive legislation. "Agonistic dialogue" was the apt phrase offered by Buddhist chaplain Dr Jan Gentaku Mojsa, to describe respectful conversation which leans into conflict constructively. She argued for mindfulness in life.
The Roman Catholic speaker, RUH consultant John Bunni, spoke clearly against assisted dying on grounds of his faith and his professional experience. Humanist Isabel Russo advocated for greater literacy about end of life and death, and argued against prolonging suffering. Both evidenced deep compassion in their professional work, which had touched several local people in the room.
Islam offers no simple answer to this, said Imam Mohammed Gamal. Two of the higher objectives in Islam are the preservation of life, and the preservation of free will. In the case of someone wishing to stop living in suffering and indignity these two principles are not easily reconciled.
There were lively interventions and questions from guests, including deeply personal accounts of end of life of loved ones.
All present were deeply moved, some even changed their minds. After a journey of deep reflection the Bath MP said she is minded to vote in favour of the new law, and the evening's discussion did not alter that view. But there was no doubt in the room that she had listened carefully and respectfully to a range of faith perspectives and all present had learned a lot.
Guests were refreshed with home made cake and home-grown apple juice from IFG members. The event was recorded and will be available soon on our new YouTube channel. The Bath IFG gained several new members.
If you agree it's worth while that people of all faiths and none meet together for this sort of dialogue and fellowship then you're welcome to join Bath IFG as a member. Sign up here. It entails no cost or obligations.
27 May 2025
ASHA inter faith conference press release
Last week 32 senior representatives of local, regional and national interfaith organisations across England gathered in the Forest of Dean in rural Gloucestershire to plot a new course for interfaith dialogue in the country. The two-day conference was hosted by the human rights campaigner and author Zerbanoo Gifford at the ASHA Centre, which she founded. The Centre is an international charity offering wellbeing retreats, training of interfaith ministers and young leaders, and a platform for reconciliation and dialogue.
The Interfaith Conference came in the context of heightened tensions between different faith groups in Britain, exacerbated by conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere. The closure of the Inter Faith Network for the UK has also left many involved in interfaith work feeling disheartened and isolated. There has been a particular question mark over the future of Inter Faith Week, an annual focus for inter faith dialogue and social action occurring every November: the Faith & Belief Forum recently led a government-funded consultation exercise on the future of the Week.
A strong sense of opportunity and new energy emerged during the Conference, and the well evidenced view was expressed that people of faith working together have the power to change things. Among the specific conclusions reached was that there should be a National Steering Group to oversee Inter Faith Week; that it was essential for the interfaith sector to speak with one voice when dealing with Government; and that local interfaith groups could do much more to share good practice and offer mutual support. The group committed to using its best efforts to make Inter Faith Week 2025 a success, and to continuing to work together.
ASHA Centre Founder, Zerbanoo Gifford, said: “It was an honour to personally host and help reenergise England’s interfaith movement, and to see so many of those that work tirelessly at the grassroots taking part. Today the movement has a new home at the ASHA Centre: a place where those who bravely and generously work to end mistrust and misunderstanding of ‘the other’ can find the collective strength to continue their timely and important work.”
Conference organiser Warwick Hawkins said: “My company Faith in Society was honoured to be asked to organise this conference. Interfaith activity in the UK is at something of a crossroads, and everyone involved was pleased to be able to help chart its future course in such a beautiful and inspiring setting.”
Note: Bath inter faith group, represented by Matt McCabe and William Heath, was one of two dozen organisations at the ASHA conference.
3 May 2025
Bath IFG Exec Committee welcomes Ras Benji;
says thank you and farewell to Charles Hayward
The Bath Interfaith Group (IFG) welcomes Ras Benji as the first Rastafari and Ethiopian Orthodox Church member to its Executive Committee. A committed spiritual servant of HIM Haile Selassie I (who lived as a war refugee in Bath 1936-1940) Benji was baptised into the EOTC in Addis Ababa last year, at which time he was given the baptismal name Haile Selassie (which means “power of the Trinity”). The Emperor Haile Selassie’s former home Fairfield House is a vibrant multi-faith and multi cultural centre. Ras Benji is operations manager at Fairfield House Bath and leads its highly rated Sunday historic tours.
Meanwhile Charles Hayward is stepping down from the Bath IFG Exec. “I have really appreciated being involved in BIFG for the last 18 years or so. Its charitable purpose (namely, interfaith activity) is close to my heart, and I look forward to supporting you and the committee by continuing to attend BIFG events”, he said. Charles was for many years active with the Christian Science church Bath, but that church has since closed. Charles will continue as co-organiser of the Bath IFG pilgrimage, which takes place this year Sun 14 Sept as part of the Bathscape Walking Festival.
Picture: Left: Charles Hayward (sixth from left) outside Bath Abbey after a pilgrimage walk.
Right: Ras Benji Haile Selassie at the UNESCO World Heritage site of of Lalibela in Ethiopia.
2 May 2025
We need "collaboration, creativity and courage" to get out of our inter faith bubble, new report says
Do we exist in an interfaith bubble?
An important new report on inter faith work in Britain recommends that local inter faith groups “commit to being courageous, seeking to expand (or burst) the ‘interfaith bubble’, addressing difficult or controversial topics, and trialling new ways of working.”
The report Bursting the Bubble - Recommendations for enhancing Inter Faith Week in England was researched and written by the Faith and Belief Forum, with support from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Former Bath IFG chair David Musgrave and current chair William Heath took part in the consultation in Bristol in January. The work comes after the government-funded Inter Faith Network for the UK closed in April last year, and was dissolved as a charitable company January this year.
The authors find that inter faith work is a “critical part of social cohesion”, with generally positive impact and a huge variety of approaches and motivations. Challenges include a negative public perception of religion, faith and belief, partially caused by negative and sensational media coverage and the rise of faith based hate.
There is limited funding and resources for staffing, running events and promotion, limited institutional support from national and local government, national faith and belief organisations, schools and the media. They also found disagreement in the interfaith movement about terminology.
The authors make a series of recommendations for national and local inter faith groups, for faith organisations, for national and local government. You can download it here.
“Collaboration, creativity and courage are the principles underlying the recommendations” the authors conclude. “We hope that these principles will be shared by all who engage in interfaith work and activity.”
Amen to that, as they say in the Abrahamic traditions.
Tribute to the late Pope Francis
Narinder Tegally writes:
It is with deep sorrow that we mourn the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis—a faithful servant of Christ whose life, ministry, and message touched hearts far beyond the walls of the Roman Catholic Church. We give thanks for his witness and pray he may rest in peace and rise in glory.
Pope Francis was a shepherd who never stopped walking with those on the margins. From the streets of Buenos Aires to the halls of the Vatican, he bore constant witness to the God-given dignity of every person—especially those who are overlooked, misunderstood, or silenced. In doing so, he not only embodied the teachings of Christ but gave courage to many of us who have, in our own faith journeys, experienced exclusion or judgment. His leadership helped us believe again that the Church can be a place of belonging.
As the first Latin American and Jesuit Pope, his voice resonated with people across the world—not because he sought to please, but because he spoke truth with humility, hope, and love. His heart was always turned toward the least, the lost, and the last: migrants, the poor, the displaced, and those historically left outside the embrace of religious institutions. He championed environmental justice, challenged indifference, and reminded us that to follow Jesus is to walk the hard path of service, mercy, and listening.
He chose the name Francis after the saint who loved the poor—and indeed, Pope Francis lived simply and gave generously. He met resistance, yet never wavered in his vision of a more inclusive church. A church not merely concerned with progress, but with presence: being present to one another in our difference, our diversity, and our shared humanity.
In this moment of loss, we carry his legacy forward—not just in words, but in how we treat one another. May his witness stir us to speak up for justice, to walk alongside those who feel they have no voice, and to build bridges between faiths and communities. His was a life poured out in service of the Gospel.
May Pope Francis rest now in the peace he preached, and may his hope continue to live in us.
Reverend Prebendary Narinder Tegally DL is writing on behalf of Bath Interfaith Group
Bath IFG signs Karen Armstrong's Charter for C0mpassion
Just in time for International Golden Rule Day Bath inter faith group signed the Charter for Compassion .
Centred on the Golden Rule - “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” - the Charter is based on work by theologian and writer Karen Armstrong. It urges the peoples and religions of the world to embrace the core value of compassion.
Now available in 30 languages it has been endorsed by more than 2m people.
Bath IFG joins it just at a time when the Charter is about to be revised for the first time since its original launch in 2009.
We look forward to participating in this first major refresh.
The Charter for Compassion (original version)
"The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.
It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.
We therefore call upon all men and women to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.
We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensable to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community".
The Charter for Compassion is a document that transcends religious, ideological, and national differences. Supported by leading thinkers from many traditions, the Charter activates the Golden Rule around the world. We are making a cooperative effort to restore not only compassionate thinking but, more importantly, compassionate action to the center of religious, moral and political life. Compassion is the principled determination to put ourselves in the shoes of the other, and lies at the heart of all religious and ethical systems.
King Charles remarks set context for local inter faith work
At the recent Bath inter faith group strategy meeting held at St John Foundation we considered the remarks Charles Windsor made to UK faith leaders before his coronation as King (see opposite).
The King's remarks provide the clearest possible mandate for the importance of inter faith work in our communities. Bath, where the first King of all England was crowned, has unique inter faith history and traditions.
So we look forward next month to discussing the King's commitment and exploring how it can be followed up in Bath with our Patron Mohammed Siddiq, the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset.
The King's remarks to faith leaders
I have always thought of Britain as a ‘community of communities.’ That has led me to understand that the Sovereign has an additional duty – less formally recognized but to be no less diligently discharged. It is the duty to protect the diversity of our country, including by protecting the space for Faith itself and its practice through the religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs to which our hearts and minds direct us as individuals. This diversity is not just enshrined in the laws of our country, it is enjoined by my own faith. As a member of the Church of England, my Christian beliefs have love at their very heart. By my most profound convictions, therefore – as well as by my position as Sovereign – I hold myself bound to respect those who follow other spiritual paths, as well as those who seek to live their lives in accordance with secular ideals.
The beliefs that flourish in, and contribute to, our richly diverse society differ. They, and our society, can only thrive through a clear collective commitment to those vital principles of freedom of conscience, generosity of spirit and care for others which are, to me, the essence of our nationhood. I am determined, as King, to preserve and promote those principles across all communities, and for all beliefs, with all my heart.
/ends
Bath IFG affirms the Jan 2000 Act of Commitment
Bath inter faith group remains faithful to the millennial Act of Commitment, which was organised at the time by the now defunct UK Inter Faith Network with HMG's DCMS.
Staying true to the Act of Commitment remains part of the Bath IFG's aims as set out in its constitution. See original text opposite:
Text of the Act of Commitment (from Jan 2000)
In a world scarred by the evils of war, racism, injustice and poverty, we offer this joint Act of Commitment as we look to our shared future.
We commit ourselves, as people of many faiths, to work together for the common good, uniting to build a better society, grounded in values and ideals we share: community, personal integrity, a sense of right and wrong, learning, wisdom and love of truth, care and compassion, justice and peace, respect for one another, for the earth and its creatures.
We commit ourselves, in a spirit of friendship and co-operation, to work together alongside all who share our values and ideals, to help bring about a better world now and for generations to come.
Bath mosque celebrates Iftar with guests
Bath IFG patron Lord Lieutenant Mohammed Siddiq and chair William Heath were among guests invited to celebrate Iftar at the Bath mosque Weds 19 March. They joined High Sherriff Rob Beckley and the Bishop of Bath and Wells Michael Beasley.
The Bishop and High Sheriff recalled happy memories of service in Muslim countries. The Lord Lieutenant pointed out he was not a guest at all, as this was his home mosque.
William Heath reminded the faithful of Bath's unique and deep interfaith traditions, such as Adelard of Bath - credited as the greatest scholar of his age - bringing the wisdom of Islamic and Christian scholars in Arabic countries to England to revolutionise astronomy, astrology, alchemy, maths philosophy and medicine. Our community still needs young Muslims to bring their insights and understanding today, he said, confronted as we are by rising hatred including anti-semitism and islamophobia.
The guests were treated to a splendid fast-breaking feast before leaving their hosts to evening prayers.
Hindus in Bath celebrate Holi with devotion, food and colours
Bath's Hindus celebrated spring and the eternal and divine love of the deities Radha and Krishna in a colourful Holi festival on 15 March. Prayers were said and devotional offerings made in the temple to large avatars of the gods, before a sacred figure liberally daubed with dry paint was carried round outdoors.
Guests were then generously fed with vegetarian dishes prepared by Susmita's restaurant, before the faithful daubed each other with brightly coloured dry paint powders while children let rip at each other with super soakers.
Thanks to Ashish and the whole Hindu community for the invitations.
University of Bath Islamic students host grand Iftar celebration
March 12 saw a blessed coming together of Bath and Islamic tradition. In the month of Ramadan. William, Aiham and Narinder from the Bath inter faith group all attended the Bath University Islamic Society's Annual Grand Iftar. Narinder is Lead Chaplain at the RUH, and Aiham the Muslim Chaplain, and Muslim faith representative on the inter faith group.
Iftar is a lavish celebration in which the faithful break the Ramadan fast after dusk with speeches, prayer and a superb feast.
We were in very good company of civic dignitaries, other faith representatives and young Islamic students, many of them studying science and engineering. We noted the significance in the history of Western science engineering and maths of the learnings about astronomy, astrology, alchemy, maths and medicine brought back from the Islamic world in the c11th by Adelard of Bath, regarded in England as the greatest scholar of his time.
The evening was opened with a speech by Bath inter faith group Patron Lord Lieutenant of Somerset Mohammed Habedat Saddiq. Speaking as the King's representative, the Lord Lieutenant stressed the commitment of the King Charles to protecting the diversity of religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs in Britain.
Many thanks to the Bath Uni SU Islamic Society for an enjoyable and instructive evening. #bathuniversity #bathinterfaith #islam #lordlieutenant #Ramadan #iftar #bathuniversitysu
6 Mar 2025
Why my Methodist faith calls me to work with other traditions - Rupert Kaye
Bath inter faith group member Rupert Kaye, a former head teacher, offers a personal view on why his Methodist faith tradition calls him to work with other faiths:
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My commitment to interfaith dialogue and bridge-building is driven by my own Christian faith. My beliefs, values and actions have been (and continue to be) shaped by:
- my prayer and worship life, and relationship with God
- my knowledge and understanding of The Bible
- the teachings and traditions of the Methodist Church
- my interactions with many, many people (in person, in literature, over time)
- my conscience
In common with people of many faiths, beliefs and spiritualities – I strive to live according to the Golden Rule by doing unto others all the good/kind/helpful/ compassionate/generous things I would love them to do unto me.
For me, John Wesley’s Rule of Life captures perfectly the Golden Rule vibe:
Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.
In seeking to ‘do all the good … in all the ways … in all the places … to all the people’, Methodists like me find ourselves impelled to stand unequivocally against antisemitism, Islamophobia and all forms of racism, prejudice, hatred and discrimination.
Yes, I do see it as my Christian duty to love all of my neighbours in and across the city of Bath, regardless of religion, denomination or worship tradition. However, I also enjoy spending time with people of many and varied faiths and beliefs. It’s intellectually stimulating. It’s fun. And, in my experience, often the serious business of promoting peaceful, respectful, harmonious coexistence through interfaith dialogue involves food.
So here is my closing thought: We should never underestimate the power of hospitality. Let us continue to ‘break bread together’ as we recommit ourselves to learning about and learning from each other’s faith traditions, so we may better reflect on our own beliefs, values and actions.
Methodist theology is applied, practical and pastoral, with a distinct emphasis on social justice and fairness. It’s about what we do, not just what we believe, think, say and pray.
Methodism takes seriously and literally biblical injunctions to stand up for the legal rights and welfare of vulnerable and marginalised people (e.g. orphans, widows, refugees, prisoners, those who are sick, those who are poor). This, I believe, is why so many Methodist churches host food banks and debt-advice centres, and provide other support services to the wider communities they serve. And many a Methodist can be found on a committee or board of trustees advocating hard for the systemic changes needed to address the root causes of poverty and inequality.
Picture: In 1985, a mosaic (measuring 125½” high, 108½” wide and 13½” deep) of Norman Rockwell’s Golden Rule was presented to the United Nations by the United States of America. It is located on the 3rd floor of the Conference Building at the UN Headquarters in New York.
William Heath elected as new Chair of the Bath Inter Faith Group
At the 2025 Bath Inter Faith Group AGM William Heath, a Bath Quaker, was elected as the new chair. He replaces Methodist David Musgrave who steps down after five years of valuable service. Members also voted in Jacky Wise, the Chaplain of St John Foundation, as vice chair.
Bath Inter Faith Group, which was established some thirty years ago, seeks to celebrate the religious diversity and spiritual life of Bath, whilst deepening understanding and friendship across all faiths and none.
The new chair William Heath said: “I’d like to thank and pay tribute to David, our outgoing chair, for all he has done over these past years. I look forward to building on all his good work. We represent people of all faiths involved in the daily life of our city and its surroundings. We will be looking at deepening our involvement in that daily life, extending our inter faith relations work, and strengthening the voice of all faiths within our communities.”
Jane O'Hara continues as Secretary, and Iris Segall as Treasurer.
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