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TRAILA pictorial and textual guide to major places of worship in town centre A L E D

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TRAILWelcome to the Rochdale Faith Trail: a resource put together by Rochdale’s SACRE (Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education) and Religious Education teachers in Rochdale. Its aim is to provide you with a pictorial and textual guide to major places of worship in Rochdale town centre, to help you enjoy them more and to appreciate the great history of spirituality and worship which Rochdale boasts.

1 We hope that the Faith Trail will enable you to:

• Learn more about the spiritual history and You can use the map to conduct your own traditions of our town: how and when walking tour of Rochdale’s places of Muslims, Christians and other faith- worship, or of course you can choose to communities arrived here, and how they visit one particular centre and spend more have developed their worship over the time there. Contact details have been centuries. provided wherever possible, and for many • Appreciate the beautiful and awe-inspiring of the places of worship contained in the buildings which form the centres for booklet, a telephone call (or email) prior to worship in Rochdale: the architecture, the your visit will ensure that you are able to history and the inspiration which have tour the inside of the building. gone into our spiritual centres. • Understand more about each other’s faiths and beliefs, what it means to worship in Rochdale and how different people’s faiths differ from, and are similar to, each other.

The Faith Trail takes the form of photographs and information about Rochdale’s centres of worship, but there is also background information on faith and beliefs, and a map to help you locate each centre of worship.

2 Muslims in Rochdale The Muslim community in Rochdale is The diverse Muslim background is reflected predominately an economic migrant in the many different styles and community that came to serve the cotton denominations of the fourteen mosques industry in the early 1960s. Many came that the town boasts. There are mosque from Sahiwal in Pakistan, which is now communities of many different groups twinned with Rochdale. Others came from here in Rochdale. Deobandi, Tableeghi, Kenya in East Africa as well as different Barelvi, Salafi, Sufi, Jamat Islami and UK parts of Bangladesh and Kashmir. Islamic Mission all have active centres that serve their respective communities. Initially most of the Muslim communities lived around the , Wardleworth In 2003, Rochdale’s first Muslim Mayor, and Deeplish areas, close to the factories Councillor Sultan Ali, convened the and mills, but from these humble Rochdale Moon Sighting Committee which beginnings the community has grown in was a significant development in the unity size as well as in wealth. The town has of Rochdale Muslims, who were now able produced businesses and entrepreneurs to celebrate the major festivals on the that now own multi-million pound same day. Recently the Committee corporations. reformed itself into an umbrella organisation, the Rochdale Council of Mosques.

3 Christians in Rochdale The area which now contains the Parish From these ancient beginnings, Rochdale Church of Saint Chad has been a has continued to develop and expand as a geographical and spiritual focal point for centre for Christian worship and living. It Christians since Saxon times, for at least now boasts an extensive range of Catholic, 800 years. The first written account of the Anglican and Non-Conformist Churches existence of a Church in Rochdale is in a and centres of worship, including Roman document of 1194 which refers to Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Geoffrey the Elder, Dean of Whalley, as Pentecostal, Salvation Army, Christian vicar of Rochdale. However the dedication Science, First Church of Christ, to Saint Chad (or, as he was originally Congregational, United Reformed and known, Ceadda) suggests that the Church Quaker. All of these Churches share may have been founded much earlier than the Christian message in a friendly this. Saint Chad was born in the seventh and welcoming way. century and educated in the monastery on Lindisfarne, and it is possible that he founded Saint Chad’s on one of his many journeys.

The original Rochdale parish covered an area of over 58,000 acres stretching from Todmorden to Saddleworth and was divided into four townships: Hundersford, Spotland, Castleton and Butterworth. Eventually, thirty-three parishes were made from the original Rochdale parish.

4 What Muslims Believe

Muslims believe in one God – known as The general teachings and guidance in the Allah and they also believe that Muhammad Quran is translated into the words and (peace be upon him)* was the final Prophet deeds of the Prophet Muhammad (peace in a line of Prophets and messengers starting be upon him) known as the Sunnah. He from Adam, through to Moses, Abraham and is believed to be the perfect role model Jesus as well as many more. and exemplar that all Muslims are A Muslim lifestyle is essentially based upon encouraged to emulate. his/her obedience to the will of Allah The major Muslim festivals Almighty through their adherence of the 5 pillars of Islam: • Eid ul Fitr – (Ramadhan Feast) Celebrating the end of the month of fasting. 1. The Testification of Faith (Iman / Shahadah) Accepting that there is none • Eid ul Adha (The Sacrificial Eid) worthy of worship except Allah and the Commemorating the great sacrifice of Prophet Muhammad is his final Abraham and Ishmael. Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) • Eid Milad un Nabi (celebrating the birth of the Prophet Muhammad – peace be 2. 5 Daily Prayers (Salah): Obligatory upon him) prayers that are offered at set times throughout the day. • The Hijrah (Start of the Islamic New Year)

3. Almsgiving (Zakah): Giving of 2.5% • Laylatul Qadr (Night of Power) – The of ones disposable income to support night when the revelation of the Quran the poor and needy. began

4. Fasting (Sawm): 30 or 29 days of • Laylatul Baraa’ah (Night of Forgiveness) fasting from dawn to dusk during the * Muslims will always send a blessing upon holy month of Ramadhan. hearing or saying the name of any of the 5. Pilgrimage (Hajj): Once in a lifetime Prophets – peace be upon them all. journey to the Sacred Mosque in Mecca, Arabia.

Muslims believe that God revealed his will in the Holy Quran which was brought to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by the Angel Gabriel. It is believed to be kept in its original state by means of memorisation and someone who has memorised it to heart is known as a Hafiz.

5 What Christians Believe

Christians believe in one God. For them God emphases of teachings and beliefs. The is so great it is not possible for human beings Roman Catholic Church is the largest to understand this idea fully. A Christian way denomination in the world; however the of trying to understand this is to speak of God Church of England is the largest in this as three in one. God is understood to be country. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and this belief is The major Christian festivals called the Trinity. • Christmas (celebrating the birth of Christians believe that God is revealed in the Jesus Christ) world in the life of Jesus. Jesus’ life and teachings are found in the New Testament • Ash Wednesday (the beginning of the part of the Bible. He is shown as a challenging fasting season of Lent) teacher, a healer and a friend to all who, whether they believe in him or not. In his • Good Friday (the death of Jesus by actions, Jesus showed the love of God for all, crucifixion) the ideal role model. The Bible is an essential • Easter Sunday (the raising of Jesus part of a Christian’s life. In this holy book from the dead) many of the teachings and beliefs of the Christian religion are found. There are two • The Ascension (the ascension of Jesus sections, the Old Testament and the New to heaven) Testament. • Whit Sunday/Pentecost Sunday (the The Old Testament covers the time before coming of the Holy Spirit) Jesus was on earth and the New Testament covers Jesus’ life and the events surrounding • Trinity Sunday (the celebration of God the early Christian church. The Christian as Father, Son and Holy Spirit) Church grew and developed in various ways, with different church groups or denominations establishing their own

6 Rochdale Parish Church, Saint Chad’s A Church has stood on the hill overlooking Rochdale town centre for over a thousand years. The dominant local heritage landmark, the Parish Church tells the town’s story from Saxon times. Built and re-built over generations, it has stonework dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. A stone wall in the churchyard is reputed to be pre-1066. Splendid stained-glass includes the Edward Burne-Jones ‘Faith Hope and Charity’ window in the tower, with glass by William Morris. Legendary film-star Gracie Fields was baptised in the 13th-century font. In the churchyard are the remains of the town stocks, dated 1688 and last used in 1822, and the grave of 18th- century poet and satirist ‘Tim Bobbin’ (John Collier).

Sparrow Hill, Rochdale Tel: 01706 645014

Saint Patrick’s Parish Church The Church was founded as an offshoot of St John’s in 1856 by a young priest, Father Michael Moriarty. The new parish was intended to accommodate the increasing numbers of Irish immigrants settling in Rochdale at that time and generous parishioners soon built a beautiful Church on Watts Street and a small school on Bunyan Street. The parish flourished throughout the twentieth century, welcoming new parishioners from Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Ukraine and Italy in the aftermath of the Second World War. Today there is a modern Church building on Elliott Street and a well-designed and successful school on Foxholes Road. The parish is also proud of its association with Alice Ingham Primary School, Smallbridge and St Cuthbert’s High School. Watts Street, Rochdale Tel: 01706 640424 www.stpatricksrc.btinternet.co.uk 7 St John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church St John’s has 1,000 seats and was opened in 1925. The plans were prepared before the Great War of 1914-1918 but, because of the War, work did not begin until 1923. It has been described as one of Rochdale’s hidden gems and hailed as ‘the most striking addition to the town’s architecture since the building of the Town Hall’. Saint John’s has a beautiful dome modelled on the Byzantine Santa Sofia in Istanbul, and a huge mosaic of the Italian marble depicting the resurrection of Christ. The mosaic was created in 1933 by a firm of Italian craftsmen and attracts visitors from all over the world. St John’s is open every day for groups, by prior arrangement. Dowling Street, Rochdale Tel: 01706 646877 www.stjohns-rochdale.org.uk

Hebron Pentecostal Church

The Church was founded in 1943 by the Home Missions Department of the Assemblies of God, when the Pentecostal movement was in its infancy. Initially the congregation met in an upper room over a café on the Butts. In 1974 the Church opened the present building which was built, at great sacrifice, by the members themselves. In 1987 the Church was extended to include a multi-purpose hall, kitchen and office. Hebron is a contemporary Church with traditional Christian teaching and values and a modern style of worship. The congregation reflects the community with all nationalities and age-groups represented. It is involved in the local community through its social concern department, English classes, crèche, children’s clubs and prison ministry.

Falinge Road, Rochdale Tel: 01706 630197

8 Faith Journey Map

8 18 Key COLLEGE ROAD 1. Rochdale Parish Church, Saint Chad’s 2. Saint Patrick’s Parish Church 3. St John’s the Baptist Roman Catholic Church 4. Hebron Penetecostal Church 5. Saint Mary, the Baum 6. Parish Church of Saint Luke’s 7. The Salvation Army

A58 8. Golden Mosque 9. Unitarian Church 10. Neeli (Blue) Mosque 11. Spotland Methodist Church - Rooley Moor Road* SPARROW HILL

12. St Andrew’s URC Church A640 13. Central Mosque

MANCHESTER ROAD TWEEDALE STREET

MERE STREET

DRA 13

3

MACLURE ROAD

MIALL STREET

STREET ROAD 14 HARE

ONE

10 MILKST 6 MILKSTONE

ROAD 9 SPOTLAND ROAD

11 4

SHERIFF STREET

HOLLAND STREET 19 9

A680

2 ST MARY’S GATE 5

7 HUNTERS LANE A58 A671 WHITWORTH ROAD

A58

SMITH STREET

B6223

NELSON STREET A671 JOHN STREET

GEORGE STREET

MILTON ST12 1 B6266 15

CHURCH STREET 17 RAMSAY STREET 16

BULWER ST

B6223

KE STREET

Key 14. Chashtiah Mosque

RICHARD STREET 15. Al-Quba Mosque 16. Bilal Mosque 17. Jalalia Jamia Mosque 18. Haroonia Islamic Teaching Centre 19. Jarvis Street Methodist Church 20. Trinity Methodist Church - Well I’th Lane*

20 *Not shown on map 10 Saint Mary, the Baum

Built in 1742, the original Church remained in use until 1909, when it was decided that owing to the excessive cost of repairs the building of a new Church would be more economical. The new building was consecrated in 1911. The arrangement of the Church is unusual in that there is a main aisle, choir and sanctuary on the South side, and a centre aisle and Jesus chapel on the North side. The screen is perhaps the most striking feature of the Church and is arguably the finest in the Diocese. Since the whole Church is dedicated to Our Lady is cannot have a conventional Lady Chapel, and therefore it has a Jesus Chapel.

St Mary’s Gate, Rochdale Tel: 01706 352604 www.stmaryinthebaum.co.uk

Parish Church of Saint Luke’s

A splendid Victorian Gothic Church (1862, Grade 2 listed) with majestic proportions. Impressive stained-glass, reredos, pulpit and war memorial.

Salkeld Street, Deeplish Tel: 01706 354628

11 The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army first commenced its work in Rochdale in 1878, but also closed in the same year. The work started again on Sunday 12th March 1882. The first premises, or 'Citadel', was the Old Rink on Castlemere Street. In 1892, a new Citadel was opened in Lord Street, which today is Newgate. It remained on the present site until 1989. In January 1993, The Salvation Army opened the doors of the purpose built centre which now exists. More information on the flag and crest can be found at the location.

Newgate, Rochdale Tel: 01706 715624

Golden Mosque

Golden Mosque was the first mosque built in Rochdale. Since the 1970s, Golden Mosque has remained in the Spotland area and provides the Muslim community of Rochdale with their Islamic needs, from daily prayers, talks to funerals. It aims to provide everyone with a beneficial Islamic education and encourage others to study the correct ways of Islam. The new mosque will encourage youngsters in the community to be more involved in Islam, God willing. Golden Mosque Youth Committee has a youth club which aims to promote interest of all youths in the Spotland ward of Rochdale by bringing together the statuary and voluntary organisations as well as the local residents in a common effort for education and recreation opportunities.

Lower Sheriff Street, Rochdale Tel: 01706 527802

12 Unitarian Church

A Unitarian building has been present in Clover Street since 1818, but it wasn’t until 1862 that the first minister was appointed and the building modernised. Since 1890 links between Clover Street and Blackwater Street had been developed, and when demands of town planners necessitated the closure of Blackwater Street Church, Clover Street was also demolished to make way for present multi-purpose building. It opened 29 July 1974 and a wide variety of religious and social activities can take place. The “pre-Raphaelite” altar windows, designed by famous Victorian artist Edward Burne-Jones, are retained from Blackwater Street building and serve as constant reminder of shared heritage.

Clover Street, Rochdale Tel: 01706 648461

Neeli (Blue) Mosque

Established in 1969 and rebuilt in 2005 Neeli Mosque today is a perfect example of traditional and modern day architecture. The original Mosque building was built in 1840 by James Hoyle, a successful corn-miller who also built the halfpenny bridge. Neeli Mosque provides a wide array of services to the local community which includes Islamic education for children and adults, educational tours for schools, computer courses for women and funeral services. The Mosque is part of a larger organisation called UKIM; which actively works towards building bridges of understanding and mutual respect across faith communities.

Durham Street, Rochdale Tel: 01706 648094

13 Spotland Methodist Church

There has been a Methodist Church in the Spotland area since 1826. Our present building dates from 1897 and is one of the few Methodist churches that retain the original raised pulpit, choir stalls, pipe organ and pews. The beautiful Memorial Window, dedicated in 1921, with names added in 1945, was funded by donations from the congregation. The other attractive windows feature words from the Sermon on the Mount. There is also a large hall and other smaller rooms which give space for different styles of worship and enables the provision of a number of activities for members and also for the wider community. These include Ladies’ Groups, Youth Clubs, holiday clubs, Mums & Toddler Group and Luncheon Club. The building also provides rehearsal facilities for the Rochdale Festival Choir and the Chimera and Phoenix Opera Groups and a meeting place for the Rochdale Woodworkers group. Rooley Moor Road, Spotland Tel: 01706 647648

St Andrew’s URC Church

There has been a church building on the Smith Street site since 1854. The United Reformed Church came into being following the union of Congregational and Presbyterian Churches in 1972. In 1980, a new sanctuary was built in Smith Street with a new name, St Andrew’s United Reformed Church. Rochdale Methodist Mission from the Champness Hall joined St Andrews in 1997, and so the St Andrew’s Methodist and United Reformed Church partnership came into being. The positive influence of various religious traditions enriches the worship life of the church. As a town centre church, St Andrews is viewed both as a sanctuary in a busy area of the town and also as a vibrant community building for a variety of events and meetings.

Smith Street, Rochdale Tel: 01706 648779

14 Central Mosque

Idara Taleem-Ul-Islam was set up in 1974 as an Institute of Religious Education. In 1995 the organisation embarked on a mission to develop a complex catering for all the needs of the Muslims of the borough, entailing a large purpose-built Mosque, an Education centre and a community resource. The Central Mosque opened in 2000 with a capacity of 2000. Its design is based on the Dome of the Rock adjacent to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and is the quickest built Mosque of its size in the country, taking only a year from start to finish. The second phase was the redevelopment of the Castlemere Community Centre. The final phase is the development of a new education centre at William Street which will provide facilities for over 500 children.

Mere Street, Rochdale Tel: 01706 645135

Chashtiah Mosque Housed in an original local Co-operative store on Milkstone Road, the Chashtiah Mosque was established in 1985 – initially using only one floor before expanding to the current three floors with a total capacity of 1500 worshippers. The current building also houses the Chashtiah Book Centre – an Islamic resource centre, The Light of Islam Academy and has close affiliations to Crescent Community Radio. The Academy aims to bridge the divide between mainstream education and traditional mosque learning and it has been recognized as a beacon centre of learning. The ‘Chashtiah’ name is derived from the Sufi Chashtiah Order based in Ajmer, India.

Milkstone Road, Rochdale Tel: 01706 663691 www.lightofislamacademy.org

15 Al-Quba Mosque

Established in 1992 in a small building that had a previous life as a carpet warehouse. When the mosque was first started in 1992 it had room only for 200 worshippers. The building was rather derelict and subsequently underwent substantial renovation work in two phases. Firstly in 1998 with an extension that gave room for 500 worshipers and then the second phase was completed very recently which now gives a capacity for 1000 male worshipers in the main hall and 350 in a dedicated ladies’ prayer hall.

Trafalgar Street, Rochdale

Bilal Mosque

From humble beginnings in 1990 Bilal Mosque began in a temporary Portakabin with a capacity for 400 local worshippers. With the ever growing Muslim community in Wardleworth it was not long before plans were drawn up in 1999 for an ambitious £3 million project to build a purpose built mosque that is perhaps the largest in the North West – with capacity now for 3500 worshippers. The new mosque is nearing its completion with beautiful marble imported from Turkey and Spain. This modern yet traditionally ornate building is going to be well worth a visit. The Bilal Mosque takes its name from the Ethiopian companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who was the first person to give the traditional call to prayer (Azaan).

Bulwer Street, Rochdale Tel: 01706 861853 www.bilalmasjidrochdale.com

16 Jalalia Jamia Mosque Jalalia Jamia Mosque was first established in 1971 at a terraced house on 66 Trafalgar Street. In 1982 the house was demolished and a purpose built mosque was erected on the same site. It was able to accommodate 150 worshippers at this stage but after several extensions, the last of which was in 2005, the mosque now has a 1500 capacity. It is remarkable to see the change from a humble terraced dwelling into what is now a spacious, airy and beautifully decorated purpose built mosque. The mosque is well attended daily by over 300 local worshippers from a predominantly Bangladeshi heritage. Jalalia Mosque has two full time Imams, one Muezzin (Caller to prayer) and four Quranic teachers. In addition to the daily prayer services there are Islamic classes for both children and adults running regularly. There is also a full funeral service available at the mosque. Trafalgar Street, Rochdale Tel: 01706 646822

Haroonia Islamic Teaching Centre

Jamiah Haroonia Islamic Teaching Centre was established in 1998. Alongside providing Islamic education to children, they also provide congregational five-time prayers as well as the Friday prayer and Eid prayers. The centre can hold up to 200 people which will increase after works to extend the centre are carried out. This will include adjoining the building next door as well as building a double story extension across both gardens. The centre is named after its main trustee, Al-Hajj Pir Haroon-Ur-Rashid Sahib. The centre is in the care of Khalifah Sufi Mohammed Afsar Naqshbandhi. For Friday prayers and other special events, Imam Abdur Rahim Naqshbandhi is the primary scholar assigned to perform speeches and sermons. In their absence, young scholar UbaidhUllah Aleem performs this duty.

College Road, Rochdale

17 Jarvis Street Methodist Church Methodism began with a group of Anglican Christians in the 18th century, led by a priest called John Wesley. He believed that religion should come from the heart and had to influence how you lived your life. They were nicknamed “Methodists” because they met regularly (methodically!) for Bible study, prayer and Holy Communion. Local Methodists met in a room above a Whitworth Road butcher’s shop until the chapel was opened in 1887.

Today meetings for worship take place every Sunday at 10.45am. There is a kitchen, hall and meeting room which are used by groups from the local community. Every fortnight, on Tuesdays, there is an over-60s lunch club. Jarvis Street, Rochdale Tel: 01706 642943

Trinity Methodist Church

Methodists try to fulfil their calling to love God and their neighbour through worship, learning, caring for others and sharing the good news of God’s love as shown to us in Jesus Christ. Methodists have worshipped God on this site since 1856, although the first Methodists in the area met in a farm kitchen from the 1750s. The present chapel opened in 1982 and has a worship space, hall and kitchen.

Sundays: Worship at 10.30am (including Sunday School) and 6pm Tuesdays: Prayer group, fortnightly, 7.30pm Wednesdays: Coffee morning, 10am-11.30am Thursdays: Meeting with invited speakers, 2.30pm, fortnightly

William Henry Street, Rochdale Tel: 01706 642943 18 Booklet produced by: SACRE (Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education) Rochdale Borough Council, PO Box 70 Municipal Offices, Smith Street Rochdale OL16 1YD Tel. 01706 647474

Contact details for other places of worship St. George’s Church Oakenrod (Bury Road) St. Michael’s Church, Bamford (Bury and Rochdale Old Road) Vicar: The Revd Paul Gully Telephone: 01706 369610

Manchester Jewish Museum Telephone: 0161 834 9879 [email protected] www.manchesterjewishmuseum.com

Visiting Jewish Speaker: [email protected]

July 2009