Faith Network for Manchester and The John Rylands Library are proud to announce a new public programme, Faith in The Arts. This is a four-part series exploring the role of libraries and archives in conserving, interpreting, and sharing sacred texts across faith traditions.
Bringing together curators and community members, the series offers a unique opportunity to engage with rare and historically significant materials, while addressing the complex questions around ownership, access, interpretation, and identity.
Session 1: Introduction to Collections at the Rylands with Sacred Texts at Their Core
Monday 30th June, 2pm-4pm
This opening session introduces participants to the concept of collections and libraries, with a focus on sacred texts. It explores how religious scriptures and historical documents are conserved and presented, and how they contribute to learning, research, and public understanding. Attendees will also learn about accessing the Rylands' special collections and digital archives.
Session 2: Sikh Heritage Project: Ownership, Access and Conservation
Thursday 31st July, 2pm–4pm
Delving into the preservation of Sikh sacred texts, this session examines how institutions navigate cultural sensitivity and spiritual significance. Topics include the balance between scholarly access and religious reverence, the role of community in stewardship, and how curators ensure respectful conservation of heritage materials.
Session 3: Collections and Storytelling: Exploring Personal and Collective Stories through Bibles and from Methodism and Non-Conformist Records
Thursday 14th August, 5pm-7pm
Focusing on Methodist and Non-Conformist records, this session investigates how sacred texts are used to tell stories that shape both personal and communal identities. Attendees will discover how archives can bring historical narratives to life and how storytelling connects faith to lived experience.
Exploring Collections: Commentaries and Interpretations in Islamic and Jewish Texts
Tuesday 16th September, 2pm-4pm
This final session highlights the central role of commentaries in Islamic and Jewish texts. It explores the challenges of translation, contextualisation, and accessibility, showing how curators work to make complex theological material understandable to broader audiences while preserving its integrity.
This series invites the public to engage with sacred texts not just as historical documents, but as living sources of identity, dialogue and meaning. We are excited to open up these conversations across cultures and faiths
All sessions are free and open to all, with advance registration encouraged.
For more details and booking, visit: https://FaithInTheArts2025.eventbrite.co.uk