A Leeds InterfAIth story 1946-2016 By Trevor S. Bates (General Editor), Primrose Agbamu, Cynthia Dickinson, John E. Moreton & John S. Summerwill A story of the emergence and development of Leeds as a multi-ethnic, interfaith city since the end of World War Two in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the founding of Concord Leeds Interfaith Fellowship Dedicated to the countless women and men who have responded to the interfaith vision for Leeds since 1976 Concord Leeds Interfaith Fellowship Published by Concord Leeds Interfaith Fellowship April 2016 Copyright © Concord Interfaith Fellowship 2016 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Typeset in Baskerville 11pt by John S. Summerwill Printed by Mixam Co. UK http://www.concord-leeds.org.uk Chair: Dr Simon Phillips [email protected] 07786 798929 Copies may be purchased from the Revd Trevor S. Bates 29 Meadow Road, Garforth, Leeds LS25 2EN [email protected] 0113 286 5305 Preface, Foreword & Introduction Contents Preface: Dr Simon Phillips iii Foreword: Revd Trevor S. Bates v Introduction: Fabian Hamilton MP vii Chapter One: Who were the newcomers? from Where and Why? 1 by Revd Trevor S. Bates Profile One: The ‘Sinai Sisters’: Ruth Sterne, Elizabeth Bernheim, Ethel Baker (Jews) 12 Chapter Two: Clusters in Response to Human Need 19 by Revd Trevor S. Bates Leeds Council of Social Services; Leeds International Council; Leeds Aggrey Housing Society, Leeds Community Relations Council Visionary Pioneer: Mr Charles H. Charlesworth 31 Profile Two: Peter Dale (Christian) 34 Chapter Three: The Changing Pattern: Employment and Housing 39 by Dr John Moreton Profile Three: Qari Muhammad Asim (Muslim) 55 Chapter Four: Religious Education & Religious Studies 59 by Revd Trevor S. Bates Profile Four: Suresh and Lalita Kanvinde (Hindus) 72 Chapter Five: Education and Concord 75 by John S. Summerwill Profile Five: Ruth Stocks (Buddhist) 86 Chapter Six: Places of Meeting and Worship 89 by Primrose Agbamu Profile Six: Dr Sewa Singh Kalsi (Sikh) 106 Chapter Seven: Concord – The Showcase Years 123 by Revd Trevor S. Bates Profile Seven: Dr Hamed Pakrooh (Bahá’í) 147 Visionary Pioneer: Dr Peter G.E. Bell 149 i A Leeds Interfaith Story Chapter Eight: Concord – An Agent of Change 155 by Revd Trevor S. Bates Profile Eight: Dr David Goodman (Brahma Kumari) 178 Chapter Nine: Local Area Interfaith Ventures 181 by Cynthia Dickinson Leeds Faiths Forum; T4P (Together for Peace); Yorkshire and Humberside Faiths Forum; Faith Together in Leeds 11 and others Profile: Nine: Cynthia Dickinson (Pagan) 201 Obituaries 205 Reminiscences 223 Concord Publications 241 Appendices: 247 1. The Aims of The Aggrey Society 2. The Objects of The Leeds International Council 3. The Aims and Constitution of Concord 4. Proposed Scheme for a Concord Multi-faith Multi- cultural Resources Centre 1985 5. Concord Multi-faith Multi-cultural Resources Centre Report 1986 6. Concord Multi-faith Multi-cultural Resources Centre Courses 1986-1987 7. Request to the City Council to establish a Central Leeds Multi-Faith Resources Centre 1992 8. Concord Officers by years 1977 - 2016 9. Concord Executive 2016 10. Concord Executive members serving 3+ years 11. List of Peace Services 12. Concord Walks of Friendship 2006 - 2013 13. Leeds Faiths Forum Council Members 14. RS and RE programmes at James Graham College of Education in 1970s Acknowledgements and Appreciation 269 Index of Surnames 270 ii Preface, Foreword & Introduction Preface The number 40 is a significant number in the world of religion. In the Old Testament, rain fell for “forty days and forty nights” during the Flood (Genesis 7:4); before his temptation, Jesus fasted “forty days and forty nights” in the desert (Matthew 4:2, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:2); Muhammad was forty years old when he first received the revelation delivered by the archangel Gabriel; and in Hinduism, some popular religious prayers consist of forty shlokas or dohas (couplets, stanzas). So perhaps it’s highly apposite that Concord celebrates achieving 40 years of interfaith activity in the City of Leeds and indeed beyond the boundaries of the city. The completion of this book is a reflection of how Concord has become an influential player in shaping so many aspects of the development of the city as the cohesive and multicultural place we all know and love. Whilst the arrival of different faiths into the city predates the formation of Concord, of course, the post-war years in particular have seen Leeds develop into a city replete with faiths beyond the nine currently represented within Concord. This book is a portrayal of how post-war Leeds worked at accommodating the new arrival of faiths and cultures. By 1976, our city was right for such an organisation as Concord, which enabled Peter Bell and others to trigger a kaleidoscope of contacts and relationships. In this way Concord became a catalyst for interfaith activities and understanding in Leeds. All of the essays are a product of endless hours of work and research using a wide variety of documents, books, websites and conversations by a small group of dedicated Concord members specially for this anniversary. I would like to publicly acknowledge the work of Trevor Bates and his team in collating these essays, focused on the contribution of communities and individuals in the arena of interfaith in the last 40 years. In particular, though, it is important to note that in addition to celebrating Concord’s 40th anniversary, we desire to honour the extraordinary work done by Peter Bell in the realms of interfaith relations and dialogue up to his death in 1999. In the last 40 years, we have achieved much as members and friends of Concord, strengthening our own faiths, as well as our understanding of one another’s faiths. However, whilst reflecting on what interfaith relations have achieved to date with Concord celebrating its 40th birthday, we must also look forward and reflect on what more there is to accomplish together. There’s still much to build on, though, as Concord looks to the future. iii A Leeds Interfaith Story I believe that Concord can continue to drive the above agenda as we approach the next 10 years. As a friend of mine said, although undoubtedly others would have remarked similarly, “Leeds Leads”. In my current role as Chair, I have been involved in early discussions on the potential for Leeds to be a European Capital of Culture in 2023. How great would it be if we participated in this as a prelude to our 50th anniversary! To all readers of this anniversary publication, thank you for continuing to be committed to interfaith activity wherever and whoever you are. Please continue to bang the drum for the value of dialogue, understanding, learning and friendship. Whether interfaith is, as one person once remarked, “cucumber sandwiches and samosas”, or building bridges and social capital, welcoming healthy difference and diversity while recognising what we have in common, a ‘concord’ is crucial to contributing to what the former Chief Rabbi, Lord Jonathan Sacks, desires as the home we build together. As the Qur’an says (49:13), “O mankind, we have created you.... into nations and tribes that you may come to know one another (and not deny one another).” Dr Simon Phillips Chair of Concord iv Preface, Foreword & Introduction foreword The pattern of interfaith relations in Leeds has become significant over the last half-century. Some would dare to claim that the Leeds experience in many ways helped to stimulate similar ventures in other cities and towns throughout the UK. Certainly the balance of different ethnic communities in this city has triggered a kaleidoscopic pattern of relationships which has enriched our city immensely. In seeking to tell the story of the emergence and development of interfaith relations in Leeds, Concord folk felt it was appropriate to attempt such a publication to help mark our 40th anniversary in 2016. Special research was done in order to tell the story, spread over nine chapters – symbolic of the nine faith communities who are associated with Concord. In addition we have included profiles of Concord members who have made a very significant contribution to interfaith dialogue in Leeds. However, in highlighting pioneers—of the early days of housing, education and interfaith relations—we realise that they were not the only outstanding persons in each area of Leeds life, though Dr Peter Bell must be considered an exception. Many others could easily have been chosen, and some of them are mentioned in our story. The chapters vary in length and to some degree there is overlapping in content, which in the circumstances is understandable, and for which we do not apologise. However, the group has attempted to depict an overview of interfaith in Leeds because of its significance for our community. We also felt it right to include several historical documents pertaining to Concord’s contribution to this story, in addition to relevant listings of events and office holders. When Concord was at one of its most influential times in its life —the mid-1980s—Dr Peter Bell referred to it as ‘The Concord Interfaith movement’. It was a bold claim, and many recognise this to be true. That is why we dare to hinge the Leeds story around that of the life of the Concord Fellowship which started in 1976 as a grassroots lay venture which remains so. The profiles of the different members of Concord selected to represent the nine faiths who have links with Concord were published in previous issues of the Concord Newsletter.