Lancaster Chaplaincy

Information about our on-campus facilities at Lancaster, upcoming events and activities, and nearby faith groups and gatherings.

Events and Activities

The chaplains are really looking forward to welcoming new and returning students this year, and we hope you'll join us for some of the following events. Whether you already have a strong faith or are simply interested in thinking a bit more about life's journey,  finding ways to develop your character, feel more alive or explore your purpose, we're here to listen and encourage. 

Do get in touch with us if you'd like an individual appointment,  have ideas to share,  are searching or curious! And do keep an eye on our Twitter account for prayers and short videos over the coming weeks. We look forward to meeting you and wish you a fulfilling and happy time here at the University of Cumbria.

 

Ramadan,

Ramadan 2023

Ramadan 2023 is estimated to begin on 22nd or 23rd March, and culminate with the first day of Eid falling on the 22nd or 23rd April 2023 (exact dates are subject to sightings of the moon). University honorary Muslim chaplains Ilyas Patel and Nawas Munshi have provided a set of guidelines for students and staff fasting in Ramadan (please refer to your student and staff global for full details) and further information can be found via the Muslim Council of Britain’s Guide to Ramadan

You can also check out the Univeristy of Cumbria's Ramadan 2023 tips.

On-campus facilities

St. Martin’s Chapel

The largest of the university’s chaplaincy buildings, St. Martin’s is a Christian chapel in the centre of our Lancaster campus. It is used regularly for ecumenical Christian worship on Wednesdays, and is open all day during the week for prayer and reflection. As well as being used widely by staff and students of the university, the chapel also hosts concerts and other events run by outside groups.

Multi-faith prayer rooms and washing facilities

We have two prayer rooms, one male and one female, in the Chaplaincy Centre in The Keep. These are open to staff and students of any faith during office hours. There are also washing facilities, a kitchen, and a small lounge area for socialising.

Quiet Room

The Quiet Room in the chapel is available all day for students and staff to take time out for peace and reflection.

Chaplaincy Kitchen

Space to chat, eat, watch TV and listen to music.

Nearby faith groups and gatherings

Groups and gatherings in the local area.

Anglican

Christ Church
Sunday Services – 8:30, 10:30 and 18:30
Wyresdale Road, LA1 3EA

Lancaster University Anglican and Free Church Chapel
Sunday service – 11:30
Chaplaincy Centre, Lancaster University, LA1 4YW

Priory Church of St. Mary
Sunday Services – 8:30, 10:00 and 18:30
St. Mary’s Gate, LA1 1YZ

St. Paul’s
Sunday services – 8:00, 9:15, 10:45 and 18:30
24 Scotforth Road, LA1 4ST

St. Thomas’s (St. Tee’s)
Sunday services – 10:30 and 18:15
Marton St, LA1 1XX

Baptist

Lancaster Baptist Church
Sunday services – 10:30 and 18:30
Nelson St, LA1 1PT

Buddhist

Lancaster University Buddhist Community
The nearby University of Lancaster has an active and supportive Buddhist community.

Lancaster Chenrezig Buddhist Centre
Kadampa Buddhism is a Mahayana Buddhist school founded by the great Indian Buddhist Master Atisha (AD 982-1054). The Kadampa tradition was later promoted widely in Tibet by Je Tsongkhapa and his followers, who were known as the 'New Kadampas', and has spread to many countries in recent years. Further information about the style of practice is available at www.kadampa.org.
Contact: Ven. Kelsang Wangmo
Tel: 01524 596 108
Email: info@meditationinlancaster.org

Lancaster FWBO
The FWBO (Friends of the Western Buddhist Order) is a Buddhist movement founded in 1967 by Sangharakshita. It seeks to return to the basic principles of Buddhism and find ways of living them out in the context of the modern West. It seeks to be neither an importation of Buddhism to the West nor an adaptation of it; it seeks to be a re-expression of Buddhism in its new surroundings. Further information about the style of practice is available at http://www.fwbo.org
Contact: Samagita
Tel: 01524 389705

Lancaster Serene Reflection (Zen) Meditation Group
The Serene Reflection Meditation (Soto Zen) tradition is the longest-lived tradition still current within Zen Buddhism. It emphasises the importance of unifying and integrating one’s practice of meditation with the finding of the heart of compassion, love and wisdom in mindful everyday living. Zen Buddhism is part of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. Further information about the general style of practice is available at http://www.obcon.org/
Contact: Kate Shirra-Gibb (01524 39918) or Paul Taylor (01524 593621 (daytime))

Hindu

Gujarat Hindu Society Temple
South Meadow Lane,
Preston, Lancashire, PR1 8JN
Tel: 01772 253912

Members of the following societies attend events at the Temple and will be able to provide further information of activities such as Holi and Diwali:

The following shops cater for Hindu food requirements:

RK Sweets
169 St Pauls Road
Preston, PR1 1PX
Tel: 01772 200505 or 01772 885 854
info@rksweets.com

Maje Store
43 Blades Street
Lancaster, Lancashire LA1 1TS
Tel: 01524 67333

Humanist

Lancashire Secular Humanists

Independent/non-denominational Christian

University of Cumbria Student Christian Union

Churches Together

Christians Alive
‘We’re a young at heart family church, consisting of multiple congregations, people of all ages, many nationalities and backgrounds. Our church community is formed through our common experience of God’s love for us expressed through Jesus Christ, and the instruction of His Word, the Bible.’
Sunday service – 10:00
The Barracks, White Cross Centre, LA1 4XQ

City Church
‘We belong to the New Frontiers family of churches with over 600 churches in 50 nations together on a mission to see lives transformed by the power of the gospel and the grace of God and to see Jesus worshiped in spirit and in truth.’
Sunday service – 14:00
New Building, East Road, LA1 3EF

Father’s House (Elim Pentecostal)
‘Father’s House is a vibrant church in Lancaster, in the north west of England. Our name hopefully reflects our distinctive values and nature. Our core values are to be obedient to Christ’s command to love God and to love each other, while actively engaging in the great commission to reach out to as many people as possible with the good news of God’s kingdom.’
Sunday service – 10:30
Owen Road, Skerton, LA1 2AP

King’s Community Church
‘The King’s Community Church is a growing, charismatic, evangelical church that meets for corporate worship each Sunday morning at 10.30am at The King’s House, Phoenix Street, Lancaster.’
Sunday service – 10:30
Phoenix St, LA1 1DD

Moorlands Evangelical
‘We are a Bible believing church in the city of Lancaster. We believe that God wants all people to hear the message of Jesus Christ which brings the best life now and a certain hope for eternity.’
Sunday services – 10:30 and 18:00
Sixth Form Centre, Ripley St. Thomas School, Ashton Road, LA1 4RS

Jewish

Lancaster University Jewish Student Society
The nearby University of Lancaster has an active Jewish Student Society which is always keen to welcome Jewish students from both institutions.

Blackpool Reform Jewish Congregation
Raikes Parade
Blackpool FY1 4EX
Tel: 01253 623687

Methodist

Lancaster Methodist Church
Sunday service – 10:30
Scotforth Road, LA1 4TE

Lancaster FM (Free Methodist)
‘We are a family church in the heart of the city and believe that Jesus Christ transforms lives. We aim to be a church that is Christ centred, purpose driven and people empowering.’
Sunday services – 10:30 and 18:30
Queen St, LA1 1RX

Muslim

University of Cumbria Islamic Society

The Islamic Society caters for the Carlisle, Lancaster and London campuses. We offer a fully comprehensive pastoral support system, with Muslim Chaplains who can travel to offer you support as needed or are available through email. We are part of the Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FoSIS) which means we have access to resources across the UK, across institutions.

To join the Islamic Society, contact us at islamicsociety@cumbria.ac.uk. It is a good way to keep in touch with the Muslim community on campus and make friends!

Mosques / Prayer Facilities in Lancaster

Lancaster Islamic Society

The Masjid e-Noor caters for men in Lancaster with prayer facilities and helpful information.

Lancaster University Islamic Society

Our sister FOSIS group at Lancaster University also provides information, prayer facilities and support. University of Cumbria students are welcome to use the facilities at the university as well as those with the Lancaster campus at the University of Cumbria.


Halal food
Halal sandwiches are available at The View on campus upon request. You can also get halal food at supermarkets, such as Sainsbury’s on Cable Street and Majae Stores on Blade Street, and a number of restaurants in town, including The Sultan of Lancaster and Kashish.

Orthodox

Lancaster University Orthodox Church
Holy Liturgy on Saturdays – 10:00
Chaplaincy Centre, Lancaster University, LA1 4YW

Pagan

Lune Pagan Moot
For Pagans and like-minded folk in the Lancaster and Morecambe areas and further afield e.g. Druids, Heathens, Witches, Wiccans, Goddessians, Gaians, Shamans, Magicians, Occultists, Animists, Pantheists, Polytheists, Reconstructionalists of old Pagan religions, and anyone interested in these and similar traditions of spiritual, religious and/or magical beliefs and practices.

Lancaster University Pagan Society
A society for all pagan faiths and for people who are interested in finding out about paganism, the occult, divination and magic.

The Pagan Federation of the North West
Serving, promoting, and supporting the pagan community of the North West of England.

Quaker

Friends Meeting House
Sunday service – 10:30
Meeting House Lane, LA1 1TX

Roman Catholic

St. Bernadette’s
Sunday services – 9:00 and 11:00
120 Bowerham Road, LA1 4HT

Lancaster Cathedral
Sunday services – 10:30 and 18:30
Balmoral Road, LA1 3BT

Lancaster University Roman Catholic Chapel
Sunday service – 11:30
Chaplaincy Centre, Lancaster University, LA1 4YW

Sikh

Guru Nanak Gurdwara Bhatra Singh Sabha
2 Clarendon Street
Preston PR1 3YN
Tel: 01772 251008.

Guru Nanak Cultural and Recreation Center and Temple
2-10 Tunbridge Street
Preston, PR1 5YP
Tel: 01772 798395.

True Jesus Church

True Jesus Church

Manchester Prayer House
32 Chevassut Street
Manchester M15 5LR
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (161) 226 2891

United Kingdom General Assembly
Boyd Street, Shieldfield
Newcastle upon Tyne, England NE2 1BS
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (191) 2324836

Newcastle Church
Boyd Street, Shieldfield
Newcastle upon Tyne, England NE2 1BS
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (191) 232 4836

United Reform

Trinity United Reform Church
Sunday services – 10:30 and 18:30
Bowerham Road, LA1 4AQ