Faith Tours are now a well-established and enjoyable part of the Faith Network for Manchester calendar. On Monday 24th February 2025 a small group visited the Quaker Meeting House in Manchester city centre, broke into groups for lunch, and travelled to Holy Name Church, the Catholic Chaplaincy to Manchester University students. The sharp contrast was intentional with stimulating questions and conversations.

At the Meeting House we heard that there are 400,000 Quakers in over 100 countries. ‘Quakers’ is a 17th century term of abuse used against the early Religious Society of the Friends of Truth. These early Friends were part of the first generation to grow up with easy access to the Bible in English which raised many debates and questions. Quakers met in houses, in farm buildings and in fields to avoid detection.

Quaker Meeting Houses remain unadorned and unconsecrated – all is sacred, and humankind cannot make more holy anything that God has created. And God’s revelation continues in every aspect of life and can be found in nature, science, music, and many books. There is no single Sacred Text and inspiration can be taken from the Bible, the Quran, the Vedas and contemplations from a wide variety of religious sources – Rumi, Meister Eckhart and Indigenous wisdom.

Quakers are currently re-examining their story, examining old records to determine their role in the Industrial Revolution which has led to today’s climate breakdown; in Enslavement and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade through banking, shipping and manufacture; in Colonialism which brought the money to pay for the plain, unadorned Meeting Houses. This will take many years, linking with other churches and work being done in other countries.

Holy Name Church was a complete and surprising contrast, although similarities were illustrated. The building is imposing, in a different architectural style to the Meeting House. Wealthy local families donated money and were memorialised although the church was built for the poor immigrant communities living in some of the worst housing in Manchester. It was built using late 19th century manufacturing processes to earlier Gothic styles, French and Italian. The organ is considered one of the best in Europe, regularly used by students at the Royal Northern College of Music. The history of the de Trafford family, amongst others, and the development of industrial and educational Manchester are clearly marked.

However, the intention behind the building is to glorify God through utilising the best available – best craftsmanship, best materials and best design. This is best realised in the architecture and the use of light through the high windows. Our guide, Adam Brocklehurst a local historian and theologian and part of the Manchester Universities Chaplaincy team spoke of the inspiration of colour and music, of the pictures and relics, of the rhythm of the devotional year in the life of a different community, often a transitory population of students. The international nature of Catholicism was underlined in the different saints commemorated – Spanish, French, Italian, English; Cardinal John Newman is particularly remembered.

The Tour latest longer than planned, friendships were continued or initiated, and we parted hoping to meet again. And this is what Faith Tours and Faith Network for Manchester is all about: giving us all an opportunity to meet, to talk, to know each other and build friendships.                             

We would like to extend our gratitude and thanks to Margaret Calvert for hosting us at Friends Meeting House, Adam Brocklehurst for being our tour guide and Alicia Perez for coordinating our visit to The Catholic Chaplaincy Church of the Holy Name.