Religious Mapping of Burley and Hyde Park

Transcription

1 University of Leeds Department of Theology and Religious Studies Religious Mapping of Burley and Hyde Park 2004 Anna Bradley, Michelle Chamroo, Chloe Gallagher, Claire Lipshaw, James Manning, Katie McChrystal, Katie McManamon, Emma Waters, David Yallop

2 CONTENTS Introduction 3 Methods and Issues 4 Burley and Hyde Park 6 The Faith Communities of Burley and Hyde Park 11 The Local Community 18 Interfaith a Look at Race and Faith within LS6 22 Local Students and their Impact 25 Conclusion 31 Directory of Places of Worship 33 Appendices 47 Bibliography 53 2

3 INTRODUCTION The city of Leeds is one of the most diverse in the UK. It draws people of all different nationalities and faiths due to several universities and specialist colleges. At the School of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Leeds, religion and locality has been one of the disciplines studied by staff and students. The Religious Mapping of Leeds module has been offered since 1994 and since then, Moortown, Armley, Leeds City Centre, Beeston and the University have all been mapped. This involves exploring the religious context of a particular area. This year, eight final year students and a master s student have undertaken the challenge to map the area which is known to most locally as Hyde Park. It borders Headingley, Burley, Woodhouse and the Leeds University campus. Hyde Park is an urban area, just north of Leeds city centre. The original area we located for the project proved to be too large; we originally planned to map areas in Headingley, Burley and Hyde Park. However, due to time restraints and the density of the area, we decided it would be better to look only at Hyde Park, which itself had a variety of different religions. Our area therefore ranges from Hyde Park Road to Cardigan Lane and across from Headingley Lane to Kirkstall Road incorporating a large majority of the LS6 and LS4 postcodes. We decided that we were going to attend a religious gathering at each place of worship within the mapped area. We also wanted to obtain interviews with religious specialists and congregation members. From this, we hoped to obtain a picture of religious life in Hyde Park. Hyde Park consists of a number of different places of worship; there are seven churches, four mosques, one Hindu Temple and one religious community. Within the area, there are also a number of other faith traditions, ranging from Buddhist, to Rastafarians and Hare Krishnas. However, these traditions do not have a specific place of worship, thus limiting their inclusion in the report. The seven churches include Anglican, Catholic, Methodist and Independent. When looking at the area, we identified certain themes that we decided to explore in more depth. These included students and inter-faith. These are pertinent issues in our area, as the population consists largely of student dwellers, who have had some impact on religiosity in Hyde Park. There is also a large ethnic community which contributes to the wide variety of religions available in the area. We are hoping to discover to what extent students and multi-faith matters affect the community both socially and religiously. From these studies, we predict that because of the high number of students in the area relations with local residents may be strained and we do not expect there to be a high student attendance at religious services. With regards to multi-faith, we assume, because of the number of different faiths, there would be high integration between different denominations and traditions. We think that we will discover a close-knit community among the different religious institutions of Hyde Park. We look forward in anticipation to the completion of this project, as it will bring a new light and understanding to an area which we know well and which is loved by many. 3

4 METHODS AND ISSUES Despite being called Religious Mapping, to complete a full and in-depth report we have gone beyond the sphere of religion, to gain a variety of external points of view on an area that is so diverse. We used several methods and most were quite successful. To begin we visited the Leeds University Chaplaincy, after having identified the significant student body prominent in our designated area. They helped us highlight what Christian religious buildings were enclosed in the area and gave us contact details for them. We knew from a previous walking tour led by Professor Knott, that there were at least three mosques and one Hindu temple that we would also have to contact. We attempted to contact all the institutions by various means. Some contact details (for the Leeds Grand Mosque, for example) were found on the Internet, whilst others were found by asking members of the Department or from the Chaplaincy material. Our aim was to set up a time when two of our team could go and visit the places of worship and community centres, and speak to those who ran them and those who attended them. Once these meetings were set up 1 the team devised questionnaires and interview schedules (see appendix). All the questions answered have contributed to our findings and in most instances proved a very useful way of understanding the community and the type of agency we were visiting (whether it was religious or non). The ways that we contacted the groups were mainly by the phone and ; sometimes a follow up was required if our initial response was not successful. For the non-religious agencies (such as Burley Lodge Community centre) we approached them directly by going in and speaking to them. People in most of the places we visited were helpful and were willing to assist in whatever ways they could. Other parties we focused on were local residents and students. To obtain information from the latter we again devised a questionnaire to ascertain where they lived, their religious inclinations and the reasons for those persuasions. Also, we were keen to know their opinions of the area of Hyde Park/Burley, as one of our key themes was the relation between students and residents. Members of our team approached students on the main road outside the Department of Theology and Religious Studies and by the University Union. Public officials that we approached (councillors and the Police) were all very helpful and told us numerous things about the area s history and modern context within the city of Leeds. 1 This was not always so simple-see Problems Encountered. 4

5 Problems Encountered We did encounter a few problems during the research process. Our original issue actually arose with our area being too large for us to map in depth. It was originally meant to encompass Headingley and all of Burley and Hyde Park. However time restraints and the density of the area meant we decided to focus only on Hyde Park and most of Burley. Secondly, we had problems with our terminology as although the local community calls the area that we mapped Hyde Park it is officially classed as Headingley. This meant for both our Census and history information we could not find results for Hyde Park, rather we had to use the location of Headingley to obtain the information required. Our third issue was with contacting and sustaining contact with certain institutions. An issue arose with one Mosque, which told one of our team members who was female that she would not be allowed to enter. It was Ramadan when we conducted the study and that posed the problem that certain residents who were observing the fast were not available in the café where we chose to conduct our resident questionnaires. The fourth problem encountered was that there seemed to be a language barrier at certain places. In hindsight the team now feels it may have been easier to contact members of ethnic minority faiths by letters rather than phone calls. However when we did members of the religious communities we sometimes found their response less than immediate and multiple attempts had to be made. Even when we arrived at places the members of the community we were meant to meet were not always there. This was due to things such as double booked schedules, prayer times clashing with our arrival and miscommunication about meeting times and places. A further problem was encountered when attempting to obtain information from the City library. Information required often no longer existed when the reference did, for example, when using the micro-file articles had removed from the newspapers prior to them being placed on micro-file. Finally the team felt that their status as students seemed to place an unspoken barrier between them and some residents or congregants. Possibly the fear of offending us by speaking directly about the student issues meant some people were maybe not as truthful as they may have been had the interviewer been a non-student. Even some students we approached were particularly challenging when approached to do the questionnaires, but nothing that a bit of persistence by the team couldn t fix. Overall the methods provided an interesting and diverse way of looking at the community of Hyde Park and Burley. 5

6 BURLEY AND HYDE PARK Hyde Park has a large student population who live in the many back-to-back and terraced houses alongside a substantial ethnic community. It is a densely populated area with many amenities and local businesses geared towards serving the local residents such as the International Supermarket, cafes and a variety of takeaways. There are also leisure facilities including a variety of pubs, social clubs and the popular Hyde Park Picture House. There is no particular shopping area; there are local shopping parades with many independent local businesses. Like many major cities there is crime, which is not helped by the number of students in the area. When looking at the history of the area, we found it difficult to define as an independent area. Ultimately this proved problematic when trying to piece together a chronological history. We therefore had to investigate the surrounding area to gain some insight into Hyde Park. Analysis of Census Data The information included in this section is from the 2001 Census, and is taken from the National Statistics. The area that is of interest is Headingley Ward. The area of Hyde Park', although viewed as a distinct area by the local people, is not an area in its own right in the eyes of the local Government. Even though the Headingley Ward is far larger than the area we mapped the statistics prove useful to our research. 18% 15% 67% Headingley Rest of Leeds England Percentage distribution of year olds in Headingley, the rest of Leeds and England. There is a correspondingly lower rate of economic activity in the area. Only 27.5% of people are economically active, compared with 58.9% of people in the Leeds area as a whole. This figure is distorted by the number of students and is therefore much lower than the whole area of Leeds. 6

7 14% 15% 71% Headingley Rest of Leeds England COMPARISON OF PERCENTAGES OF PROPERTIES IN EACH AREA PRIVATELY RENTED OR LIVED IN RENT FREE. In respect of religion there is a much higher percentage of non-religious people in this area, 33.2% compared to 16.8% in Leeds as a whole and 14.8% in England and Wales. With a much lower percentage of Christians (47.3%) compared to the 71.8% average for England and Wales. In contrast there is over double the amount of Muslims in the area compared to the national average (6.1% Headingley/3.0% England and Wales). These statistics show this area to be a multi-cultural one with many different religions living and worshipping in a small area % 90.00% 80.00% 70.00% 60.00% 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% White Asian/ Asian British Black/ Black British Headingley Rest of Leeds England STATISTICS SHOWING THE ETHNIC COMPOSITION OF HEADINGLEY IN COMPARISON TO LEEDS AND ENGLAND. 7

8 The History of Hyde Park The area in and around what we now know as Headingley has been lived in since about 5000 BC. 2 The area provided for the needs of the earliest settlers with the large oaks in the area used for shelter, timber and fire wood. From this it is clear to see that the Leeds area has been inhabited for a substantial time. The area was originally part of the parish of Leeds until 1849 when it became an independent parish. One of the earliest religious sites in the area was Kirkstall Abbey. The Abbey, although not in our locality, was built on land that was then Headingley Forest; part of ancient Headingley. The Abbey and its neighbouring land have had significant impact on its surrounding area. The Abbey was first inhabited in 1153AD and was home to many Cistercian monks until its dissolution in 1539 during the reign of Henry VIII. The dissolution of the Abbey led to the breaking up and selling of land in the local area. This ultimately became significant in enabling wealthy families to purchase land in the area. One such family were the Savilles. They were later to become the Brudenells and heirs to the Earl of Cardigan. By 1700 most of the land in the area belonged to the Earl of Cardigan, with most people at that time self sufficient through agriculture, growing their own crops and earning money by weaving woollen cloth. The area remained relatively unchanged until the start of industrialisation in the 18 th century when it evolved into a busy modern suburb. Leeds, like most major towns was growing, developing and industrialising during the 18 th and 19 th centuries. This led to population growth and property boom. According to Gardener, Lord Cardigan was the first to sell land for building plots, and from 1830 onwards the housing boom got going. 3 These landowning families were very influential in the area right up to the 19 th century and the modernization and industrialisation of the area. It is clear to see their importance in developing the area by looking at the street names in Hyde Park, Cardigan Lane and Brudenell Grove to name just two. Key developments in the religious history of Hyde Park An important factor when looking at the history of Hyde Park is the settlement and development of a variety of various ethnic groups leading to the growth of different religions in the area. History of Christian Religion in Mapping area The area that has been mapped has not only strong links with the religious history of Leeds but also has in recent years become a central area within the city for a variety of groups to worship within. Crucially, it can be shown to have strong ties to the formation of earlier history. A particular example of this can be shown to be the Religio Laici 4. The document, although it has no direct link to the immediate area we 2 C Gardener, From Acorn to Oak, History of Headingley 1985, p4 3 ibid p24 4 Adrian Hastings in Alistair Mason, Religion in Leeds, Sutton, Far Thorpe Publishing, 1994, p8 8

9 are mapping, plays an important role. It was the first document within the area that highlighted the major differences between Protestants and Catholics thus allowing for cross-denominational links to be built. Today it can be shown how the area this mapping exercise covers flourished with the rise of churches seen in the past one hundred years. The opening of Our Lady of Lourdes in 1930, although still recent, demonstrates that Catholicism has been present in the area for a number of years. The fact that the congregation that occupies the church began their life in the 1890 s with the occupation of a house in Burley road demonstrates the history that the Catholic movement has in Leeds 5. The acquisition of another property in the 1930`s which allowed priests to be trained in the Cardigan Road area reinforces this view. Furthermore, the history of other denominations within the area also shows the strong sense of worship and religion that has always been present in the Leeds area. The Bethel United church can be traced back to Harrogate. 6 Indeed right across the area mapped churches have had their histories for roughly one hundred and fifty years within the city. Although City Church only opened a mere eight years ago. Of particular interest to this study is the fact that it was formed after worshipping totally outside the area in Bradford as the congregation used to practise from a house in the area dating back to The South Asian Population There has been an Asian presence in Leeds since the 1930s. Many men came from the Punjab, Gujarat and Bangladeshi regions of India to seek employment and economic gain. At first it was mainly industrial based jobs that were on offer, but as they began to become more settled they were employed in many more sectors. The community increased through the decades especially during the 1960s, when the British government was planning to control immigration, at which point the community hurriedly made sure all their families were reunited before the ban was put in place. Although the increase in numbers at this time was probably only part of the family development process. The Muslim Community By 1965 the Muslim community that had in the past been quite small began to grow. Around the area of Leeds University a mosque was created (in Omar House, Woodsley Road) which had previously housed student services. This was to cater for a new student population who had come to study at Leeds. This property is now known as Leeds grand mosque and is currently attended by over 500 members of both the student and resident community. It is also one of the focal mosques for our project. Until 1984 the settled migrant community of the previous years and the new 5 Alistair Mason, Religion in Leeds, Sutton, Far Thorpe Publishing, 1994, p8 6 John Gillingham, Worship in North and East Leeds, Great Britain, Kingsway Press, 1988, P39 9

10 student population had not had much interaction with each other, with the Muslim students meeting in a church on the university campus. 7 The Hindu Community In the 1960 s when the Hindu community in Leeds first began to develop they had a strong and friendly relationship with the Sikh community. As Hindus did not have their own place of worship the Sikhs allowed them to worship at the Gurdwara. They worshipped alongside each other with some Hindus even on the board of trustees. However conflict quickly occurred as the Hindu community wanted to perform certain rituals which were against Sikh values. Consequently, the Hindus began to collect money to build their own temple with the formation of the Hindu Cultural Society in 1966 and the Hindu Charitable Trust in With the funds from this Trust they were able to purchase the Spring Grove estate in 1970 this is now the Temple we look at on Alexandra Road. In 1990 a new management committee was formed so that a new generation could be involved, with Shri Suresh Shah as the chairman. In 1993 the Temple joined the Hindu Council of the North and has received help from the Yorkshire Jain Foundation and South Indian group. A newly renovated temple opened on the Spring Grove site in Today, the temple is still dominant and people travel from all over Yorkshire to be part of this community. 8 Conclusion It seems that there is a correlation between the religious history of Hyde Park and the residential development in the area from the 19 th century onwards. Changes in population were dependent on residential development particularly in the second half of the 20 th century. Religious institutions grew in the area when housing did. Previously the area was uninhabited with very little history of its own. The housing boom and industrial revolution changed this developing Hyde Park into the bustling diverse area we see today. 7 Ron Geaves, Muslims in Leeds, Leeds, Community Religions Project, University of Leeds, Kim Knott & Sewa Singh Kalsi, The Advent of Asian Religions. In Alistair Mason (ed) Religion in Leeds (Gloucestershire: Alan Sutton Publishing, 1994), pp ; Kim Knott, Hinduism in Leeds (Leeds: Department of Theology and Religious Studies, 1986, 1994), pp

11 THE FAITH COMMUNITIES OF BURLEY AND HYDE PARK This section of the report deals with the religious communities in the assigned area of Burley and Hyde Park. The intention of this chapter is to gain an insight into each institution by discussing what role they play, their relationship with the wider community and their perspectives on what they think the future will hold for them. We found that there were a wide range of denominations and Christian Churches in the locality and so as a group we divided the institutions among ourselves to go and visit them. Once we had made contact, we attended services and carried out interviews with religious specialists and congregational members. The relevant material collected has been organised into three groups below; firstly we will focus on the Muslim community, secondly the Hindu community and finally the Christian communities. The Muslim Community 9 The Leeds Grand Mosque Up until 1984, Muslims in the area and around the University worshipped in houses. As a result, the trustees of Omar House which had previously housed Student Services bought a disused Church on Woodsley Road, and converted it into a Mosque. 10 The Imam, Sheikh Mohammed Tahir has been working at the Mosque for four years and described the participants as a diverse mixture of people, from Britain, Pakistan and Arab countries. Prayers take place everyday and, during the main weekly Friday service, there is an average of five hundred to six hundred participants, which shows that there is a large Muslim population in the area. It was interesting to note that students have had a big impact and so changes do occur when the semester ends and they go back to their town, cities or countries of origin. The Christian community in the area did not really affect the Mosque prior to the events of September 11 th. However, after this, the churches were supportive to the community and more multi-faith events began to take place. One female member of the management team said that the Mosque is at the centre for providing the needs for the community. Education seems to be central, as they offer maths and science classes for those who require them, a scout group and Arabic lessons. They also continue to have good links with the council and police. It was predicted that, in the future, the community would increase and that the multicultural links would expand, so that people could become more aware of Islam. 9 With the vast majority of Muslims worldwide being Sunni Muslims (80%), the team felt it was likely that this would be the same in our area. Our research prior to any visits suggested three of the Mosques in the area were Sunni, with the Makkah Masjid and Madrasa Mosque being Shia. On visiting Makkah Masjid and Madrasa Mosque however, we were informed that the Mosques in the area serve all Muslims, not Sunni or Shia particularly, and therefore this Mosque was not Shia. It was explained that it would be undesirable to discriminate against either denomination of Islam, as the fact that someone was a Muslim was more important. 10 Ron Geaves, Muslims in Leeds, (Leeds: The University of Leeds, 1985). 11

12 Al- Medina Jamia Mosque and linked Makkah Masjid Mosque The Makkah Masjid Mosque is affiliated with the Al- Medina Jamia Mosque. It is situated on Brudenell Road and was built due to a lack of space at the Brudenell Grove site, at a cost of 1.8 million pounds. The Al- Medina Jamia Mosque on Brudenell Grove was converted from two houses in the early 1970s. Its main weekly service is dominated by males, but a significant number of children do attend during school holidays. The Imam stated that the Christian community has no direct influence on the Mosque, but that they do have a link with the Anglican Minister at All Hallows. The Mosque does have links with other faiths; for example, shortly after we attended a group from Garsforth Methodist Church were going to visit. The only activity offered at the Mosque, which is limited by finances, is Qur anic reading classes. There is a strong community spirit and the Imam believes that the future bodes well for this Mosque, where unity and understanding of multi-faith relationships will continue to increase. Makkah Masjid and Madrasa Mosque This Mosque was previously a community centre and was converted around four years ago. Friday prayers attract two to three hundred people, with older males as the majority of attendees. The caretaker of this Mosque did not see the student influence as positive on the wider community. He sees the area as one where local residents are moving to avoid the vast number of students, a problem that can only be tackled by the council. With regards to the students who attend the Mosque, he described them as well behaved and quiet, but even so, he believes that in the future, other local areas need to be transformed to accommodate a share of the students, so that Hyde Park can return to a better a mix of families and students. The Hindu Community The Spring Grove Estate, in which the Hindu Temple stands, was purchased in 1970 and has continued to be a major place of worship for Hindus all over Yorkshire. This is because it is traditional, relaxing and a place to seek peace of mind. The Chairperson, Mr Shah, who has worked at the Temple for fourteen years, has noticed an increase in the past decade in the number of worshippers, especially during festivals and at weekends. This is because people have time to worship and can bring family members with them. Others, such as the local Jains, are also welcome to come and worship. The Hindu Temple has a good relationship with the Christian community, but the latter has no effect on the former. A day centre is offered to all; it provides music, dance and IT classes. The Temple also accepts visits from schools and other clubs who are not Hindu, so that they can come and learn something about the Hindu tradition. Mr Shah s hopes for the future include increasing the size of the community centre building, attracting younger people to worship and keeping the communities values alive. 12

13 The Christian Community All Hallows Church All Hallows is an Anglican Church situated in Hyde Park and, with St. Augustine s, Wrangthorn, is part of the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds. All Hallows was built in the 1970s after a fire destroyed the previous Church. The congregation is comprised of two parish areas: All Hallows and the parish of St Margaret s previously located on Cardigan Road and declared redundant in Ray Gaston, who has been the vicar at All Hallows for the past five years, informed us that the congregation of approximately thirty-five to fifty members has increased over the last decade. The congregation is formed of a mixture of refugees from other churches, local residents and people from outside the area. This seems to be due to the progressive nature of the Church, which means that they acknowledge that God reveals Godself in the past, the present and the future and that they are open to learning about God through engagement with others outside the church. 11 The community sees themselves as having a specific brand of Christianity with a radical interpretation of the Gospel. This means that they place a primacy on the root of their faith and the practice of Jesus of Nazareth, over and above later doctrinal and credal formulas. 12 The vicar emphasised that the Church works closely with the local resident community, by providing a community cafe and discussions concerning Mothers Against Violence and the Iraq War, in which they have a strong anti-war focus. The Church has great links with Network Leeds and the Muslim community in Hyde Park enabling it to gain a stronger identity and to build its community faith. It is this that Reverend Ray Gaston wants to continue to develop in the near future. St. Augustine s Church, Wrangthorn Wrangthorn Church was named after St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo. On the 28 th August 1867 fundraising began to build the permanent Church. Hyde Park had been suggested as the name of the Parish, but on the Ordnance Map the locality was described as Wrangthorn. As a result, the name St. Augustine s Church Wrangthorn was chosen because it was more euphonious. The present Church was dedicated in Reverend David Calder has been working at Wrangthorn for the past four years. His role is mainly one of pastoral care, working outside of the Church visiting people within the area. He has noticed that, in the time he has been there, his congregation has decreased due to the fact that the elderly population have either moved away or died. Approximately fifty people of all age groups attend his main weekly service. More appear to be part of the younger generation of residents rather than students. The Church has a close relationship with other Christian organisations, but these are mainly outside of the area mapped, such as the Woodhouse Methodist Church and the Blenheim Baptist Church. Yet, the Church Hall is regularly used to provide religious 11 All Hallows. Radical, progressive, liberal, catholic < accessed 15/12/ Ibid, par Information taken from photocopied sheets provided by the Reverend David Calder. 13

14 and non-religious activities such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Bible Week once a year for all in and outside of the local area. When looking to the future, Reverend Calder hopes that families from oversees will stay and continue to be part of the Wrangthorn community. He would like to build the relationship with the Muslim community involving them in certain Church activities. Nevertheless, if the future holds the closure of Wrangthorn, which is what some congregational members think, it will be because of the lack of people in the congregation and not the commitment shown by the religious leader. Bethel United Church of Jesus Christ In 2003, this religious community, which used to be Methodist, celebrated its 40 th anniversary as a Pentecostal Church. This is a black led Church, in which the worship leader is a woman named Pastor Parris. About forty people mainly drawn from Chapeltown and places outside our area attend the main weekly service on a Sunday. With regards to the issues concerning the local community, there are little, if any activities that this Church has to offer. An elderly day centre is present at the building, but the congregation are not actively involved. Consequently, the community of the Hyde Park area do not have much effect on this Church and therefore, no comments could be made about the future hopes involving religion in the local area. However, the Church continues to maintain a black presence in the area by drawing in black worshippers from outside it. City Church Leeds City Church Leeds was formed from Christian house groups of Bradford and Leeds in It was opened on the 18 th February 1996 in the former Headingley Hill Congregational Church. The religious leader we spoke to emphasised that services can be lead by congregation members, which people have found very positive. Approximately fifty people attend the main weekly service and this number is a slight increase on numbers from a decade ago. The congregation are mainly drawn from Headingley and outside our mapped area, with some students, but the majority aged between thirty-five to fifty and from a variety of different cultures and backgrounds. As a Church, there is a strong community spirit and from our findings we believe that they are having an impact on the area. This is evident through a pregnancy crisis and counselling service offered to all and through working with other churches promoting faith in schools. There is hope for a new building in the near future and a continuation of helping people to change their lives. Hyde Park Methodist Church The Hyde Park Methodist Church was built in The purpose for this new site was that four churches were closed and emerged as one. It was specifically built to cater for a large congregation, which has made it difficult to maintain over the years. The minister, Keith Hunt, has worked in this religious community for the past five years. During this period, congregation numbers have remained the same. This is because, when people have died or moved away, others have joined. A true indication of community spirit is shown through the way members of the congregation who 14

15 moved away from the area years ago, travel back to worship at the Church. The minister noted that his Church is multicultural, with a growing African presence showing that this congregation welcomes all. Throughout the years, links have been made with All Hallows and the Word of Life Church. The Leeds Chinese Christian Church also uses the premises for worship and prayer meetings. As a community they have also offered a drop in centre for youths and a girls and boy s brigade, which now has an increasing number of Asians. One congregation member suggested that it would be good to get out into the community more and develop their relationship with other places of worship. Overall, Reverend Keith Hunt was very positive and as a result, he felt that his Church will continue to grow and develop in the near future, thanks to the participation of the African section of his congregation. Headingley St. Columba United Reformed Church Established in 1966, Headingley St Columba is a Union Church and part of the United Reformed denomination. Headingley is not the geographical area in which the church stands, but it is called this to commemorate Headingley Hill Congregational Church which it has had a union with since The St. Columba part of its name commemorates the Presbyterian Church in Cavendish Road which was founded in The minister, Reverend Bill Frame has resided at Headingley St Columba for one year. He sees his role as one of preaching and pastoral care. From looking back at the previous years, he has highlighted that there has been a decrease in the size of the congregation from three hundred to one hundred and twenty, with the majority being elderly. He believes that this is due to the Presbyterian style of worship and the autocratic style of leadership 15 that used to exist. A congregational member believes that this is because there is no real community in the area. This Church is greatly involved with Churches Together in Headingley, which is a forum where Churches in this locality can come together to co-operate on solving issues of concern to the community as a whole. 16 Headingley St. Columba is open to any group who wishes to use their facilities at a low cost; parties are arranged for disadvantaged children in Leeds and an Asian s women group use the space to cook for the blind Asian community. Even though Reverend Frame is quite new to the parish, he does have a vision of what he wants to see change. This is an ecumenical vision and one of Christians working closer together. He would eventually like to see a scheme in Headingley where a shop front becomes a Christian Resource Centre, bringing the needs of people and the Christian Faith together. 14 Information taken from a booklet provided by the Church. 15 Quotation from Reverend Bill Frame, Interview date 31st October, St. Chads, Broadening Horizons. Churches Together in Headingley < accessed on 15/12/04. 15

16 This church community is one which has grown old together; it has moved from a young family church to an older church. Without the participation of the younger generation the future of this place of worship could be one of a dying community, but until that day, there will be a strong community spirit. Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church The only Roman Catholic Church in our designated area was Our Lady of Lourdes on Cardigan Road. The priest we spoke to told us that there used to be five hundred people attending, but that now this had dropped dramatically to less than one hundred. This may be due to the fact that families have been forced out by students because of rented property and a lack of planning by Leeds City Council. Nevertheless, there is still a community spirit, as many families who left the area travel back for Sunday worship because the Church is welcoming. There are many religious activities offered by the Church, including a young mother s Catholic group, prayer groups and the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. There is also an over fifties group and parish club. There were conflicting views regarding the future of the parish, with some suggesting that the Church was going to diminish as there is a lack of faith in younger people, whilst others were positive and felt that the Church was going to prosper. A Christian Community: Word of Life Word of Life was described by the paid elder Mike Winter as a community and not a Church. He sees it as a network of networks which interact throughout the whole of Leeds. To this community, religious institutions are not separate entities but should work as one. The main site for meetings was built in 1993 on Cardigan Road, but it is not used on a regular basis, as gatherings occur all over Leeds. There is a core group of sixty to eighty, with the majority aged between twenty-five and thirty-five. In their house group meetings, they discuss how they have brought God into their workplace and into their lives, and they also look for ways in which they can do this better. This community is greatly involved with many churches in the area, together for peace with the Asian community, and is actively involved in schemes run for the development of disadvantaged children. Mike Winter believes that the Gospel can transform society, as it gives meaning and purpose to life. For this to take place, however, issues of race and inter-faith need to be grasped by communities in the future. Conclusion Drawing on all the information gathered, there are clearly a range of religious institutions in Burley and Hyde Park. They all have an important role to play in keeping religion alive in the area. The majority of churches were concerned that their congregation numbers were decreasing because, even though there is a community spirit, families and elderly residents are not present any more highlighting a negative trend. The fact that many worshippers are drawn from outside the area indicates that students are dominating the locality and not using the services and activities provided. Some communities do feel that their institutions will increase if they can gain the participation of the younger generation. They are trying to provide this through their 16

17 religious and non-religious activities. Some Christian communities have expressed the need for more links with other religions. They feel that most institutions run separate lives, and so communication in the area is one thing that could be improved, giving each religion an insight into the others. 17

18 THE LOCAL COMMUNITY In order to fully understand exactly how all these different places of worship affect the area that we are studying we need to look carefully at the community in which they are based. Local Community Integration There seems to be a real identity within Hyde Park when speaking to the local residents and students. Each identifies with the area for different reasons and is proud to live there. However, from the questionnaires we conducted, there seems to be little integration between the groups. There is some, but it tends to have to be organised; for example, CALM, a Leeds Metropolitan initiative which encourages students from both Universities to put something back into their community. Comments from local residents and congregation members interviewed convey a very negative image of students. There is a negative stereotype, which when realised by students new to the area, acts as a disincentive to make an effort in involving themselves with the locality. Being labelled as a guest 17 in an area in which you live is not a great way of encouraging student-resident relations. There is a lot of anger in the community on the part of the residents. There are various associations which are lobbying for changes in law to stop any more student houses in the area. This anger is essentially directed at Landlordism, but there is a feeling among students that they are becoming scapegoats. Heal Headingley is one of these associations just the name suggests that students have damaged the area. Students recognise that this is a problem of too many students, not a problem of students in general or of individual students in particular, but some of the literature and attention of this whole debate has become sidetracked and is damaging to the relations in the area. There is a real division between residents and students on how to tackle this problem. Having said this, there were a couple of positive comments from residents about students bringing life to the area, keeping it young. There are community activities such as the Unity Day 2004 in Hyde Park, which takes place in the summer and is focused at permanent residents forging closer community connections. There are many active community associations on the area. 18 Community Centres There are three main community centres in the area. They are The Cardigan Centre, Burley Lodge Community Centre and Woodsley Multi-Cultural Centre. All of these are used by various sectors of the local community, including many religious groups. The Cardigan Centre is located on Cardigan Road in the heart of Hyde Park. Although it is owned by Leeds City Council it is leased to a charity known as the Cardigan Centre. It was opened in 1990 by the Bishop of Ripon. Its Mission Statement states, the Resource Centre is a community enterprise providing accessible and creative Examples of Residents Groups Battle for Burley, Burley and Hyde Park Community Safety Project, Cardigan Triangle Community Association, Cardigan Community Action, Headingley Network Community Association, Leeds 6 Moslem Association, North Hyde Park Neighbourhood Association, St Anne s Resident s Association, Stanmore Residents Association, South Headingley Community Association. 18

19 administrative services for the local community, developing their professional educational or business needs and thus strengthening the local economy. 19 The Centre was originally set up with the help of St Margaret s Church 20, on whose land it was built and there is still an Anglican representative on the board of directors. The Centre houses such activities as Youth Drop-in, Vandan Group (Hindu Women s Group), Hare Krishna Workshop, Leeds International Church of Christ and Yoga. As you can see, there are activities organised by both religious and secular groups. There is also a distinction within the activities organised by religious groups between worship and social activities. The Burley Lodge Community Centre began in 1981 but moved to its present building in It is a registered charity aiming to improve the quality and opportunities of life for all residents in the Burley Lodge area. 22 The Lodge runs a community café three times a week. It caters for some specific religious dietary requirements, for example the high population of Muslims in the area calls for them to provide halal food. The Lodge houses such activities as Adult Drama group, Arabic dancing and a counselling service. The counselling service is offered in English, Punjabi and Mirpuri languages. The Woodsley Road Multicultural Centre aims to provide facilities for the areas of Burley and Woodhouse. The centre was built by the city council in partnership with the Leeds Muslim Council. It is run by a management committee consisting of local groups. The Centre houses such activities as a Girls and Young Women s Group, a homework club, Elders Luncheon club, youth clubs and Keep Fit. Community Policing As we have identified, there are a large number of students that live in the area of Hyde Park and Burley. We spoke to PC Braierley 23 who worked in the area for four years about whether the presence of students has changed how the police operate in the area. There is a high rate of crime, burglary dwelling being the highest. This is because students tend to own a large amount of expensive electrical equipment such as stereos and laptops. The second highest is car crime. PC Braierley told us about various campaigns which the police run in this locality. They have run Action Days which educate students about how to keep themselves and their property safe, for example the high profile Walksafe campaign. There is also a high and visible police presence in the area with mounted police and regular high visibility patrols. According to PC Braierley, children aged perpetrated the largest proportion of the crime. As is obvious from our report there are a large number of ethnic minorities and people of many different religions in the area, but PC Braierley said there have not really been any racial tensions although he did identify the Hyde Park riots of the 1990 s. 19 Taken off notice board in Centre. 20 Now closed 21 Service Information Booklet, Burley Lodge Centre. 22 Ibid 23 From Weetwood Police station. 19

20 Yorkshire Television Studios Yorkshire Television Studios was established in 1968, and it is one of the largest independent television companies. The television centre and its associated offices on Kirkstall Road were founded twenty-five years ago, with the former being built on wasteland and the latter originally an ice rink. We spoke to Dee Marshall, a senior producer and director of Calendar News, who has worked at Yorkshire Television for fifteen years. Even though she lives outside the area of this mapping project, she had a strong opinion about its nature. She told us that it is clearly a student area with an inner city feel. To her, students have a huge impact on the area, especially with regard to accommodation, and as a result the area is deprived, there are high crime rates and a great need for regeneration. In spite of this, however, she noted that there is much evidence of community spirit, predominantly among the Asian sections of the community and students. Although there is not much crossover between the two, this shows that there is the perception by outsiders that unity exists among the residents of Burley and Hyde Park. With regard to religion, she did not see this as having a great impact on the area because it is fragmented and groups are isolated from one another. It was noted that there is a strong community spirit among the employees at Yorkshire Television, but that, since the merger of Granada and Carlton, the company has lost some of its close-knit atmosphere. This larger corporation has meant that workers do not feel like a small community anymore. On the whole, Yorkshire Television may be a secular institution, but it is not forgotten that religion plays an important part in the lives of some of the workforce. As a result, all staff are allowed time off for religious festivals or pilgrimages and a Christmas carol singing broadcast take place every year. Clear policies have been implemented on religious discrimination and employees know that the personnel department is there to assist them, if they have a problem. Faith guidelines on respecting other colleagues were a key point made by Dee Marshall. Yorkshire Television has a duty to the public to broadcast all types of programmes and so a certain percentage of religious broadcasting has to be delivered. Consequently, this organisation has its own religious advisory group that meets to discuss all religions and acts as a sounding board for religious broadcasting. In relation to the area of Burley and Hyde Park, Yorkshire Television has worked with some of the religious groups. They have filmed at the Leeds Grand Mosque and completed filming projects with All Hallows portraying the idea that there is an interest in local religion. Students have had no direct impact on the company, only that work placements can be arranged for them. Prior to our interview we had not thought that Yorkshire Television would be greatly involved with the community, unless they were filming or carrying out research. Therefore, it was surprising when Dee Marshall highlighted how the staff are encouraged to undertake activities within the local community to build on the community spirit that is already evident. One example of their work is delivering parcels at Christmas to those who are less fortunate, which highlights that even though Yorkshire Television may be a large 20

21 organisation, it appreciates its viewers and wants to give something back from the company to the community. 24 Landmarks and social areas in the Hyde Park area In the area that we have been studying there are several important landmarks and social gathering areas. As it is greatly multi-cultural, some of these places have special provisions or are specially designed for people of different minority communities and/or religions. For example there are several halal butchers in the area. There is also an International Supermarket on Brudenell Grove next the Mosque. This carries food for people of many nationalities. There are also clothes shops on Brudenell Grove, which provide clothes for women from Indian cultural backgrounds. Other significant landmarks in the area include the park itself which gives the area its name and Hyde Park Picture House. There are several large pubs and social clubs in the area, the Royal Park pub and both the Hyde Park and the Brudenell Social Clubs. There are several shops such as Jacksons and the Co-op. There is also the largest charity shop in Leeds, Poverty Aid UK, located on Cardigan Road. These landmarks and places provide important secular areas for people to interact and meet as a community. Religious institutions might previously have held this position but considering that 33.2% of this community hold no religious belief 25, these institutions play a vital role in the community. Conclusion This section highlights the changing face of Hyde Park. In an increasingly secular community, and one with a large transient population, links may be harder to achieve. With less people attending church, community spirit needs to be derived from elsewhere, which is why cross- cultural meeting points such as the Cardigan Centre are increasingly important in the integration of society. This also allows more encounters between people of different faiths, whereas previously people s social circles may have been mainly derived from people of the same religion attending the same place of worship. 24 Dee Marshall, Interview date 4th November Census figures 2001 Headingley Ward 21

22 INTERFAITH - A LOOK AT RACE AND FAITH WITHIN LS6. From just looking at our area one can see diversity everywhere. There is a mixture of residents including a significant number from ethnic minorities. On nearly every corner there is a fast food take-away, which not only provides the needy students with food, but also uses Halal meat for the Muslim residents in the area. On the corner of Queens Road there is Barakas, a local and popular Middle Eastern restaurant that not only serves typical Middle Eastern foods but also sells neghila a fruit flavoured tobacco that is popular with many of the local students. On Brudenell Grove is the International Supermarket, which again sells Middle Eastern and Indian delicacies, and is situated next to the Brudenell Grove mosque visited during our study. One thing that became particularly noticeable was that these places are very much part of the Hyde Park area and so therefore part of student life. Even though many students did not mention these places they are nonetheless significant evidence of cross-culturalism in the area. In addition to these shops there are also many pubs around LS6 that are popular with some of the long-term residents of the community as well as the students. Religions, the religious and the relations with each other in LS6. To try and fully explore the interfaith theme in the area, we interviewed not only students and religious specialists but also residents and congregation members. This gave us a basic overview of multi-faith and inter-faith aspects. The question we posed religious specialists on inter-faith issues concerned the links that their place of worship had with others in the area of both the same faith and different religions. In many of the interviews we found that the place of worship did have a link with another, different, institution. For example, Leeds Grand Mosque regularly entertained visitors from different faiths for social and educational reasons. On the other hand Our Lady of Lourdes identified no links with non-christian religious groups but were partnered with another church in the area, as well as having alliances with charity networks. It seemed that many of the places of worship we visited do have links with other denominations and faiths within the area. Our initial hypothesis on the inter-faith theme was that within Hyde Park and Burley there would be quite a lot of cross-cultural action. However only a few of the Churches mentioned their links with another religion, such as All Hallows Church, which has a good relationship with the Muslim community and even hosted a Ramadan awareness seminar and encouraged their members to fast during a period through Ramadan (when we conducted our study). The Church has also had visits from members of the Muslim community and pointed out during our interview that the reason they were keen to forge links with those of the Muslim faith was because they are the dominant community within the area. This was seen as more of a priority than creating links with the Hindus as they do not influence the area in such a prominent way. Unlike the Muslim community, the Hindu community did not have ties with other faiths. 22

23 However, moving away from the religious institutions to the more secular community centres, there was clearly a significant level of inter-faith encounters at Burley Lodge Community Centre. Here we interviewed the Development Manager who told us that the centre (which has no religious affiliation) is attended by a majority (seventy percent) of black/minority groups. The centre is used for different activities and caters for all people especially the marginalised members of society. The Manager identified an unusual mix of people who attended and suggested that, because of its unaffiliated religious status, it appealed to a wider range of community members. The Community Centres place within the area has lead to a greater awareness and appreciation of people s different cultures. What students bring to the community. The theme of inter-faith and students is a noticeable one in Hyde Park and Burley as many of the students from both Universities choose to live here during their studies. There are many educational aspects of inter/multi-faith that take place on the nearby University of Leeds campus. Events run by the student union such as Inter-Faith Awareness Week (22nd 26th November) helps educate and inform students on different religions, not only the traditional monotheistic ones, but also less known ones such as the Bah ai Society. The students who attend these events may impact on the race and faith relations in LS6 as their knowledge of other religions and communities ways of life is increased. Schools - a lasting impression. As the Vicar at Wrangthorn Church highlighted, the schools in the surrounding area are quite multi-cultural. There are children from many faith backgrounds, including Christians, Muslims, Jews and Hindus. Until 2004 there was a popular primary school on Royal Park Road. However this was shut in the summer of This was a prominent place for interfaith encounters as it was close to churches and the new mosque, and its pupils came from mainly Muslim backgrounds. Within modern school syllabuses there is a requirement to teach Religious Education. This should ideally lead to an increased awareness and social acceptance of different religions and cultures and should be central in encouraging good inter-faith relations in the community. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Race Relations. After the riots in Leeds and Bradford in 2001 race and ethnic relations became a key issue. The local police force assisted us with our interfaith theme by sending us literature distributed to new migrants on how to deal with reporting a race-related hate crime. They did assure us, however, that there is a very little race-based crime within our area. The literature included leaflets for students, shop-owners, parents and children of school age, printed in multiple languages. They offer support and guidance for victims of crime though, despite this being such a multi-national community, there is little serious racism identified in Hyde Park or Burley. However one member at Leeds Grand Mosque we spoke to mentioned she did know of her (Muslim) friends having verbal abuse shouted at them by white youths. This 23

24 could illustrate the possibility that there may be some types of racist crimes that are not reported to the police and so not evident in their crime statistics. The area overall does seem relatively peaceful in this respect and most residents seemed content with the multi-faith aspect of their local community. Friendly Neighbours? The local residents we interviewed did seem to recognise the multicultural and interfaith aspect of the area. Whilst they did not all take part in inter-faith dialogues or attend places of worship there was a general awareness and mainly positive feelings to the cultural and diverse aspects different people, including students, bring to the area. 26 Concluding Observations. There are clearly a number of different faiths within the area mapped by the group. The significance and influence of religion on the society is far from dominant but it is instantly recognisable that religion is central to the lives of many of the residents. The interfaith aspect of the community is becoming more prominent since the events of September 11 th. This has meant that dialogues between communities are being encouraged in order for stereotypes and prejudices to be challenged and undermined. It was recognized from personal contacts through the group, that, although there are no synagogues around the area, there are a significant number of Jewish students living in Hyde Park and Burley. The closest synagogue is on the Leeds University campus in the close proximity of the Universities. This highlights that, in addition to those religions discussed, there are also likely to be other faiths presented in the population, reiterating the diversity of the area. Finally it has been noted by the group that, having researched and interviewed the members of the public, inter-faith relations are far more publicized since September 11 th, for example on the All Hallows Church website There were less positive aspects mentioned too-see Local Students and their Impact. 27 allhallowsleeds.org.uk 24

25 LOCAL STUDENTS AND THEIR IMPACT The area we mapped has a high proportion of young people due to its position close to both universities: the 2001 census states that 30,851 students have arrived since 1991 and 69% of the population is aged 16-30, compared with only 17% nationally. 28 In addition, numbers at Leeds University have increased 94% since , and between 1997 and 2000, 8,500 families left the area. 30 Considering these figures, and negative press coverage about students, we felt the effects of students and the opinions of local residents about them were important in mapping the area. We wanted to explore the consequences of the fact that most students populate the area simply for the chance to study and leave after three or four years. We wanted to discover if local people and students believed this would have any implications both at a local level and at specific places of worship. The existence of the organisation Heal Headingley suggests students have damaged the area and we will discuss their aims and motives later in the chapter. The team spoke to local residents and the attenders and leaders of places of worship about the effects of students on both their place of worship and the area in general. The team also spoke to students about their experiences of religion in the area and their opinions about the relationship between students and residents. We will discuss possible effects students have on the area and the effects they might have at particular religious institutions, before looking at their opinions of the area and the religion within it. Local Residents The opinions of local residents were mixed and everybody questioned held an opinion on students. One resident believed the area had changed massively in the ten years they had resided there and believed there would come a point when the area would become too saturated with students and there would be little community left. This was the most negative opinion we found from local residents. Those residents holding more positive views felt that the impact of students was important in a variety of ways; one resident of the area for forty years believed that some businesses would be dead without students and those they brought life to the area. Another felt safer with students around locally. 28Census results cited by HMO lobby, a member of Heal Headingley, accessed 13/12/ The Guardian University Guide, 2004, cited by Heal Headingley, accessed 13/12/ Article by Michael McCarthy, The Independent Newspaper, 06/09/03, Growing army of undergraduates transforms run-down urban areas for better and worse, cited by Heal Headingley, accessed 13/12/04. 25

26 The more mixed responses contained both negatives and positives. For example, a number of residents were unhappy that greedy landlordism had caused the student problem and led to increased house prices. This has led to families leaving the area and the closure of local schools - Royal Park Primary in Hyde Park and Bentley Primary - in the summer of The number of takeaways and cars parked were cited as common problems too, along with noise and the fact that students are only residents for parts of the year. One taxi driver informed us that the company he works for has no option but to charge 30% extra all year round to cover such periods of slack business. This is an example of students disrupting the stability of the local economy. Some positives were the mention of student volunteers in community projects and the liveliness that students bring. It is important to mention that this liveliness is positive for some, but for others constitutes noise and is a problem. Members of Religious Communities We spoke to some attenders of places of worship about their views on students both at their place of worship and in the local area. An attender of Leeds Grand Mosque believed students were not a negative influence on the area, though he was a student himself! A second attender, also a student, believed the same, though he also understood how and why some residents were unhappy. Leeds Grand Mosque has many student attenders and is a popular place for Muslims coming to study in Leeds. This might explain the positive portrayal here. An attender of St Augustine s, a resident for over sixty years, was clear that the students had affected both that place of worship and the area in general. He believed that students had driven the congregation away, resulting in over 50% of the congregation being comers and goers, that is non-regular attenders. He believed this was preventing a significant religious community from developing around the Church as was the fact that families were leaving as housing costs were too high. Religious Specialists We received mixed opinions from the religious specialists we spoke to. The Imam of the Al-Madina and the affiliated Makkah Masjid Mosques, a resident for twenty years, believed students had a negative influence in the obvious ways such as causing families to move, but believed there were positives. For example, he suggested that the exposure to young students by young, local Muslims would encourage them to attempt study rather than become satisfied with a menial job. They will see study as an important aspect of life and be encouraged to learn. The Mosques had been affected in a small way by this as some attenders had now moved out to Headingley or even further away. He believed the future held more understanding between the students and the residents. The caretaker of the Makki Masjid and Madrasa Mosque has been a resident since He informed us that a few students attend the Mosque and that they are well behaved and attend regularly. Students had little influence on the Mosque, but no negative influence. He saw students as a problem in the area, simply because of the sheer number, and believed the council was at fault on the issue. He suggested parking-permits as one way of pleasing residents. He believed the problems would 26

27 worsen without action, and another area needed to be transformed to accommodate some of the student population. Reverend Gaston of All Hallows informed us that there were few student attenders at All Hallows. The only students that attend are ones looking for a non-student church. Ray informed us that the church is there to minister to residents and does not have much to do with students. Students have little influence on All Hallows or its community café. Reverend Calder of St Augustine s has been in the area for around four years. He informed us the church has a small number of student attenders, but notices a drop in the congregation when students leave for vacation. Reverend Calder believes students have had a positive influence on the church. The area is a fun and exciting place to be, with the students responsible for the large volumes of live music and restaurants. They contribute to a lively community. He believes there are too many students, however, and blames bad planning and greedy property owners for families being forced from the area. He believes it would be good if more students stayed on after finishing university, as those who do are some of the most interesting and creative people he has met. We spoke to the Imam and the manager at Leeds Grand Mosque who informed us they have many students attending the Mosque due to it being the largest in the area. This means they are accepting of students in their religious community but also understand the problems with students in the area. They have needed to increase events and services as the student population has increased. Students Using the information obtained from the students we spoke to, we will discuss the thoughts on religion that were given, whether or not the students worship in the area, what they think about the resident/student relationship, whether or not they have been approached by a religious representative and their thoughts on the influence students have. We spoke to thirty students who happened to be in the area at the times we were interviewing and discovered that fourteen of the 30 worshipped either at home or in Leeds. Six said that they worshipped at home but not in Leeds and their reasons varied. One said they could not be bothered, another said it was a home thing for them, and the remainder went at home for family reasons. Of those that worshipped in Leeds, the majority favoured South Parade Baptist Church due to it being welcoming, with one attender stating, it suits my needs. Another worshipped with the Leeds University Christian Union, and another participated in bible study with friends at their homes. Of the non-worshipping students, only two had taken advantage of the services offered by a religious institution in the area; these were both second-hand sales. Six non-worshipers felt that they believed in religion without having ties to a specific location. These are clear examples of Grace Davie s notion believing without 27

28 belonging. 31 Of these six, one stated he was spiritual and another felt she was Christian. We were interested to discover that only one of the thirty saw students as having a positive influence on the area, with a variety of reasons given for why they did not, ranging from the sheer numbers to the noise and the litter. Eight of the thirty believed there was no real relationship between residents and students, yet most had not encountered animosity. All the students we spoke to had an opinion about the relationship between students and residents, and seemed to be aware of the contentious issues. For example, it was offered by most that the noise and therefore the disruption to families were a problem. Some thought that there was no relationship, just co-existence in an attempt to make the best of the situation. The students were aware that the area had many students and could suggest further implications for this. For example, untidy gardens was mentioned. Generally, it seemed that a few students thought residents made no effort to mix, but most saw the relationship as not being good. Nobody felt there was a good relationship but opinions differed as to how much of a problem was evident. It was mentioned by one person that they understood the area was too crowded with students, but thought it was unfair to penalise the students, as they had no control over town planning or where property owners were offering accommodation. Most students expressed the opinion that they knew little about religion in the area, but saw it as having multiple faiths and religious diversity. We asked the students if they had ever been approached by a religious representative in the area, and if so what was there religion? We felt that if this was a common occurrence it would provide evidence to support the notion that residents were attempting to build bridges with the students. We found that fifteen of the thirty had been approached. Christians were responsible for 11 of these encounters, including two Mormons. However, we must bear in mind that those approaching students might not be from the area themselves. In addition, Jehovah s Witnesses were responsible for two and Buddhists one. It was interesting to see evidence of these different religions working in the area. Religions targeting the young can sometimes be seen as attempting to take advantage, though nothing sinister was reported. In summary, it seems the students were aware of religion in the area though few participated in religious activities. Those who do seem to use South Parade - a student friendly church. They were aware of the problems they bring to residents, though some felt this is unfair, as they did not plan the demographics of the area. Some believed the residents do not want a relationship with the students. The Student Problem The organisation Heal Headingley is attempting to assist the area by focusing on the evident problems and states that it is campaigning for a sustainable balanced 31 Davie, Grace. Religion in Modern Britain since 1945, (Oxford: Blackwell, 1994), p94. 28

29 community in Headingley. 32 The organisation welcomes students as guests, explains that they blame the City Council and Westminster for not controlling landlords and alcohol barons who want to abuse Headingley to make a quick buck. They thank the majority of students who do care for the place and ask that the streets be treated gently. They insist that they have made so many attempts to rectify problems that they are now increasingly persistent and do not want students to feel got at. They describe themselves as living in the shadow of the universities, a shadow that is driving them away. 33 It is easy to interpret the provision that students should not feel got at as one that suggests the organisation does not blame students. The suggestion, derived from the name of the organisation, that Headingley has been harmed, though, could suggest to students they have actively harmed an area, despite the organisation stating that it blames higher powers. In response to residents expressing their dissatisfaction, Leeds City Council has made several provisions. For example, student exclusion zones, where numbers of students can be legally capped, will be introduced. It is also being advocated that no more accommodation is to be converted for students in Hyde Park and the surrounding area. 34 This demonstrates that the problem has gone too far and the City Council is prepared to act. It is worth mentioning the extent to which the area has become run down : Hyde Park is in the top 3% of crime-hit areas in the country. 35 Students are thought to be the cause of this considering the tendency for shared houses to contain multiple electronic devices. The relative wealth of students in comparison to local residents has increased the problem. Harold Best, the Member of Parliament for Leeds West and therefore our area, suggests that, because the students have become used to poor living conditions in the area, they have lost interest. 36 This would explain their perceived lack of interest in preserving the area. The fact that so many students have arrived and have no university-provided accommodation has allowed landlords to house students in urban areas. If the students were confined mainly to the campus, or separate housing complexes, noise and litter would be their problem on their doorstep. There is evidence to suggest, however, that students do care about the area. For example, some of the people cited earlier in the chapter mentioned student volunteers and the fact that they significantly assist the local economy. Claire Leyden, Action Coordinator at Leeds University Union, believes it is a mistake to label all students as transient and disinterested in their area. She helps run thirty-one projects aimed at improving LS6 and has around five hundred student volunteers. She finds it disheartening when students are criticised all the time. 37 For example, students and residents cleaned a Hyde Park street in a blitz as part of national make-a-difference day. Anna Wallace of Community Action at Leeds Metropolitan University helped rally volunteers and stated that she was also sick of students getting a bad name: Students always get the blame for this area being run down, so we wanted to show that they can be part of the solution. 38 It could be possible, then, that poor town 32 Heal Headingley website, homepage, accessed 13/12/ Heal Headingley website, University section, accessed 13/12/ Leeds Student Newspaper, 29/10/04, p6, Trouble Mounts in Ls6. 35 ibid. 36 ibid. 37 ibid. 38 Leeds Student Newspaper, 05/11/04, p2, Students Always Get The Blame- We Want To Show We Care. 29

30 planning, the results of poverty, and a noisy student majority are giving students a bad name. Conclusions It is fair to say that students have a substantial influence on the area. There is no doubt they add vibrancy and assist the economy, but many believe there are simply too many and vibrancy can easily be interpreted by some as noise pollution. Students have not chosen to live in such areas, but have been pushed there by bad planning and greedy business people. Whoever is to blame for the problems, the students are aware of them and not all students are the same. Respondents at places of worship have informed us that students make positive contributions there, and we have seen that many student volunteers exist and attempt to assist the community. Some places of worship, for example Leeds Grand Mosque, were built because of students moving into the area. There is no one sentence to sum up the influence of students in the area or in religious institutions, as the roles played in different places vary. One major problem is that the word student is being used to describe a diverse group of people who number over 55, The consequence of this is that anything negative one student does can become something that students do frequently, at least in the eyes of some. What is clear, however, is that some resentment does exist and students seem prepared to put up with it for the three years that most stay for. Students lives are not significantly affected by such resentment and maybe this is something that could be addressed if the area is to be transformed. With Council measures and laws being implemented the concentration of students in the area will fall in the future. What is not clear is how much it will change and whether it will appease those who are dissatisfied. It is also unclear how the economy will be affected and the feel of the area that is cherished by some. The future holds change for the residents and students of Hyde Park and Burley. 39 Figure obtained from Leeds City Council Development Department, last accessed 13/12/04. 30

31 CONCLUSION Our research in the Hyde Park and Burley area has been an interesting and enlightening experience. The methods of research used allowed us to gain an insight into the culturally diverse area that is Hyde Park and Burley. The themes we identified in the introduction were highly visible within the area and helped us to identify with the area. It is obvious while walking around Hyde Park that it is a culturally and religiously diverse place. Through our research this has been further highlighted by the interviews we conducted. An influencing factor on the research study has been the internal and external viewpoints the members of our team offer. This is due to the fact that most of us live or have previously lived in the area as students. We therefore have pre-conceived notions of issues that have been raised from both student and residential perspectives. It is clear to see that Hyde Park has been changing throughout the last two centuries. Many religious institutions have grown up and have greatly impacted on the area. Our research showed that this diverse area is a continuously evolving and changing place with many hoping that interfaith links continue to allow this growth. As pointed out by many religious specialists there is a fluid population due to the proximity of the universities, which ensures the composition of the population changes annually. At the start of our research we predicted that there would be high integration between the different denominations and faiths. This however has not been proven in our findings. Some religious places have links, e.g. All Hallows has links with Leeds Grand Mosque, but some do not, e.g. the Hindu Temple. Many Religious specialists felt inter-faith links were important even essential in developing community ties and consolidating the spirit of Hyde Park. Our hypothesis regarding students predicted relations with long term residents would be strained and there would not be a high number of students at religious services. A lot of residents did feel there were certain elements of conflict. However many grievances were with landlords rather than students themselves. Furthermore we discovered a variety of projects and schemes run by the universities in order to improve links with the community. With regard to those attending religious services, our prediction that students would not attend seems correct. In addition to this we discovered a lot of people travelled into the area to worship, as they were loyal to particular places. A clear example of this would be the Bethel Pentecostal Church, where the majority of the congregation travels from areas such as Chapeltown. This is counter-balanced by a number of students who worship outside the mapped area. The trend at the moment among students seems to be of attending South Parade Baptist Church, which is just outside our area. Our visits to numerous community centres suggested that there was a need (which was being met) for a place for community members to meet. Activities in these centres range from yoga to Arabic dance classes. The secular nature of these community centres interestingly allows for a greater integration of people from different faiths and ethnicities, but not students. 31

32 The future of Hyde Park depends very much on a variety of factors. The growing student problems need to be addressed in order for long term residents to continue living and investing in the area. Further links and development within the different communities and faiths need consolidating to ensure a solid and positive future. 32

33 DIRECTORY The Hindu Temple Place of Worship: Religion: Contact Details: The Hindu Temple Hindu 36 Alexandra Road, Hyde Park, Leeds Profile: There is no one age group attracted to this Temple, but people from all ages worship and pray here. The worshippers tend to be drawn from the following ethnic groups: Gujarati, Punjabi Indian and East African Asian. The average attendance is between five and fifteen at one time, but this depends greatly on the day, the time of year, and whether there is a festival. The festivals attract hundreds of Hindus from the Leeds area. Description: The Hindu Temple is very traditional and quiet with beautiful deities making it a peaceful place for all Hindus to worship. Mr Shah and his committee have made a huge impact on the Temple, which has been renovated in recent years. Their hopes are to attract more of the younger generation and to ensure that the community s values are kept. Services: Events: Daily Prayer: 9am-12.30am and 5.30pm-9pm Hindu Community Learning Centre. 33

34 Al-Medina Jamia and linked Makkah Masjid Mosques. Place of worship: Al-Medina Mosque. Makkah Masjid Mosque. Religion: Leader: Contact details: Profile: Description: Services: Events: Muslim Makkah Masjid Mosque Imam: Hafiz Fateh Muhammad Sahib Tel: (both) Al-Medina Brudenell Grove, Leeds, LS6 1HR Makkah Masjid- Brudenell Road, Leeds, LS6. The Makkah Masjid Mosque was built to accommodate a group of worshippers that had grown too large for the Brudenell Grove site, which still remains fully functional. The Makkah Masjid Mosque has room for 750 worshippers, it has purpose built facilities for washing and prayer and has a separate floor for females. It mainly attracts middle-aged and older males but has younger followers during school holidays. When our visit was made prayer was quite formal but limited to around twenty men. It was early afternoon prayer, Zuhr. It was quite soon after Ramadan this could therefore explain the low numbers. Some Muslims only attend Friday prayer and not daily prayers. It had a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. The Mosque is open daily for prayer. Ramadan and Eid are busy times at the Mosque. Qur anic reading classes are held for children but finance limits the number of teachers that can be employed. 34

35 Maki Masjid and Madrasa Mosque Place of worship: Religion: Leader: Contact details: Profile: Description: Services: Events: Maki Masjid and Madrasa Mosque. Muslim Mosque Caretaker: Muhammad Mahroof 1 Vicarage Road, Leeds, LS A small Mosque that has only been open for 3-4 years since the building was bought and converted by the local Muslims. It does not have females attending the Mosque. It has a male, mainly middle-aged set of attenders, with some Indian and Pakistani students also. It has unusual financial difficulties due to the strict vetting of any donors. For example, money must not come from someone who sells alcohol. The Mosque is very small and the interior is clean and well kept. Some provisions are made for washing. It has bookcases and the atmosphere was very welcoming and friendly. Daily prayers are held at the Mosque. Qur anic reading and Urdu language classes are offered. 35

36 Leeds Grand Mosque Place of worship: Religion: Denomination: Leader: Contact details: Leeds Grand Mosque. Muslim Sunni Mosque manager- Mr Birawi 9 Woodsley Road, Hyde Park, Leeds, LS6 1SN contact@leedsgrandmosque.co.uk Profile: Description: Services: Events: The Mosque attracts people of all ages to its services; elderly people are as abundant as are the under-fives and teenagers. The ethnicity of those who visit the Mosque is diverse. This diversity can be traced to the reasons for the opening of the Mosque. It was decided that the Mosque was required to meet the needs of Muslims who had come to the area to study at the universities, inevitably leading to attenders from all over the world. We were informed that the students and their families make up between 15-20% of those who attend. This also means that the congregation is fluid as students and their families leave Leeds following completion of study. The Mosque seemed extremely friendly and welcoming. Those present frequently described each other as brothers. In addition, it was Ramadan and it was explained how much charity is involved. All the food used to break the fast was donated from the community and all of the tidying and preparation was done by a Ramadan team who were all volunteers. There are no paid positions at the Mosque either, meaning everything is charity based. The atmosphere was generally serious, but this reflected the importance of Ramadan and breaking the fast. Despite this, children were playing together as the older people prayed. It was pleasant to witness this tolerance of the children. We were informed that the children are encouraged to learn some of the short Qur anic verses of-by-heart. The Mosque offers a place for Muslims to participate in their five daily prayers. It is much busier during Ramadan where the fast is broken in the Mosque, and at other times of the year Friday prayer is the busiest time. The Mosque offers Fatwah (legal decisions on an Islamic basis), Funerals, Marriage and Nikkah, an Islamic contract of marriage. Arabic language classes, Science classes, Family groups, 36

37 Scout Group, Computer skills, Crèche/nursery (part-time). There are also events run annually such as: BBQs in the summer, Maths classes for boys during Ramadan. 37

38 All Hallows Place of Worship: Religion: Denomination: Leader: Contact Details: Profile: Description: All Hallows Christian Anglican Reverend Ray Gaston Regent Terrace, Hyde Park, Leeds This is a growing Church with an average attendance of approximately 40. It is quite a young congregation, with the majority of the members aged between 30 and 50. The approximate membership is 70, but the vicar notes that people do not always attend some people come to worship once a year, others every week. This congregation is drawn from many areas of north Leeds, and the local community. It is a 'Progressive Christian' Church. The Church is quite modern and has some lovely stained glass windows. The Church uses the rainbow to symbolise its aims and to reach out to people. They aim to be open, welcoming and inclusive, exploring the meaning of God s love for all people. 40 Services: Events: Sunday 10.30am. This community is a very active one throughout the local area. It is involved in both ecumenical and multi-faith activities. The Church runs many activities such as: Hyde Park Churches Youth Project (run with Hyde Park Methodist Church) Community café, A Healing Space spiritual healing Yoga classes, Tai Chi, Pilates, Street dance group, Advice sessions, English classes, The Church is also a Leeds City Credit Union collection point. The Church also runs one off activities such as: This aim is taken from their vision included in the website: 38

39 Community arts events (e.g. The All Hallows Annual Arts Festival) The Church also supports external projects such as the Iraq Solidarity Fund. 39

40 Bethel United Church Place of Worship: Religion: Denomination: Leader: Contact Details: Profile: Description: Bethel United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) Christian Pentecostal Pastor MC Parris 43/45 Victoria Rd, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 1AS The majority of attenders are female. The congregation is drawn from a whole range of ages. There are not really any students; the congregation tends to be mainly residents, many of whom come from other areas of Leeds. There are approximately forty people who make up this congregation. This is a black led Pentecostal church. Services: Main service - Sunday Other services - Sunday Wednesday evening - Prayer Meeting Events: There is an Elderly Day Care Centre run from these premises. 40

41 City Church Place of Worship: Religion: Denomination: Leader: Contact Details: Profile: Description: City Church Christian Independent Gareth Duffty and Jonathan Edwards Ashwood Hall, 44a Headingley Lane, Leeds, LS6 2EB (Fax) In this congregation there are approximately people attending the weekly Sunday service. There are some students and a whole range of ages, particularly in the age range. City Church consists of people of all ages from a diversity of cultures and backgrounds. City Church is a welcoming and lively Church. This congregation believes that Jesus gave his life for the world and they want to share the love of God with as many people as possible both within Leeds and beyond. It is a very family orientated Church with provisions such as Sunday school for children. Services: Sunday There are also regular bible studies, prayer groups and cell group meetings. Events: Pregnancy crisis counselling service for the local community. Café. Prayer meetings. Helpline for prayer requests. They have one-off events such as a Parenting Day and Up:Rising which is developed for youths and students. They hold several seasonal events for example at Christmas they have Carols by Candlelight and a Christmas Guest Service. 41

42 Headingley St Columba Place of Worship: Religion: Denomination: Leader: Contact Details: Profile: Description: Services: Events: Headingley St Columba Christian United Reformed Church Reverend William Frame 70 Headingley Lane, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 2DH Headingley St Columba s congregation is relatively large, but has decreased somewhat in the last ten years. There are about 120 people who attend this Church, with an approximate weekly congregation of The average age for the congregation is years and the majority of people are White British. A friendly, welcoming and caring Church. This is a congregation with a new minister (appointed last year). Therefore it is a changing congregation. He is challenging the vision that the community holds, what the members are thinking and how people show God s love through being active Christians. Sunday am. Choir. Monday House Group. Thursday House Group. Wednesday Evening Group. Coffee Mornings. The Church also hosts annual events such as Children s Christmas Party. 42

43 Hyde Park Methodist Mission Church Place of Worship: Religion: Denomination: Leader: Contact Details: Profile: Description: Services: Events: Hyde Park Methodist Mission Church Christian Methodist Reverend K. Hunt Hyde Park Road, Leeds, LS6 1PY This Church has a good mix of ages but the majority are over 65 years. The congregation is made up of an equal number of males and females. The majority are residents or those who travel into the area because they are dedicated to the Church. There are hardly any students, but those that do attend, tend to be international students.the average Sunday congregation is about 35 people. The Church is a purpose built building, built after the merger of four Methodist churches in the area in the 1970s. It is a large building with many areas for parish activities. The Church draws its congregation from the local community and those committed to the Church that travel into the area. Main service: Sunday 10.30am The Church offers many activities such as: Hyde Park Churches Youth Project (joint project with All Hallows) Girls and boys brigade movement (which meets throughout the week which encourages Christian values and beliefs within life). The Church building is also used as a day care centre and for Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. 43

44 Our Lady of Lourdes Place of Worship: Religion: Denomination: Leader: Contact Details: Profile: Description: Services: Daily services: Events: Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Leeds (Part of the Diocese of Leeds). Christian Catholic Parish Priest: Fr Peter Kravos Priest in Residence: Fr Neil Byrne 130 Cardigan Road, Leeds, LS6 3BJ [Fr Kravos] [Fr Byrne] A well-established community with members who have been there five years or more. Students do attend the Sunday services. Confessions are on Sunday 12 noon pm. The Church caters for the older members of the community with an Over 55 s club. Attendance is good when our visit was made there were approximately 90 in the congregation. Although this number has decreased over the years. There is an equal balance of male to female congregants. The Church is adorned with two large stained glass illustrations of Jesus which are particularly striking. There are wooden carved images of the last moments of Jesus death surrounding the Church. It is quite large in size and hymnbooks and song sheets are provided for all who attend. Main Service - Sunday 11am Children s Services also take place. Holy Communion Memorial Mass is offered for those who request it. Contact Church as they vary. A range of activities take place at the church over the year: Jumble Sales, Children s Liturgy, Ceilidhs, Fairs, Traidcraft stall. 44

45 St Augustines, Wrangthorn Place of Worship: Religion: Denomination: Leader: Contact Details: Profile: Description: Services: Events: Saint Augustine s Church, Wrangthorn Christian Church of England Reverend David Calder Hyde Park Terrace (Near Hyde Park Corner) Leeds david.calder@lineone.net St Augustines is a congregation made up of all ages. It is predominantly white in ethnicity. It is attended by approximately people at its main weekly Sunday service. A friendly all-age church, in the heart of Leeds, where care for the community is central. Worship is traditional, with music. Everyone is welcome, particularly families and students to share in all aspects of the Church s life and to help rebuild the community. Sunday 10.30am: Holy Communion (on the third Sunday of every month, family service and evening communion Sunday 18.30pm: Evening Prayers Wednesday 10am-11am: Church Open for private prayer. 11am: Prayer group (1 st Wednesday of every month at 10.30am Traditional Holy Communion) Sunday school. Sunday Bible study. Leeds Bible Week. Singing group. Church Hall provided for: Alcoholics Anonymous, Toddlers group, Relatives groups, Uniformed Organisations: Brownies and Guides. Further Information: Leeds Bible Week and other regular Bible readings. 45

46 Word of Life Places of worship: Religion: Word of Life; A Christian Community Christian Leader: Mike Winter Contact details: Cardigan Road, Leeds 6. Profile: Description: Services: Events: The word of life community tends to cater for younger people with its average age group being year old and also those with young families. The community is predominantly white in ethnicity. The core group in the community is between people. This is a community rather than a Church, which connects with other Christians throughout Leeds. It is concerned with bringing faith into everyday events. There is no particular service as it is a decentralised model of the Church, which works across the whole city. Meetings take place every now and then. Together for Peace. Toddler Groups. Play Schemes. Kids Club. Space. 46