The Union now manages two Multi-Faith Rooms on behalf of the college in the new Students' Union Hub. These rooms are designed for prayer, worship and reflection by students and staff from all faiths and beliefs.
The Union has been consulting with student faith and belief groups to determine how these rooms can be used to reasonably accommodate for everyone’s needs. Three consultation sessions were held this year as well as consultation sessions last year, including one with architects designing the room.
The response to the Multi-Faith Rooms has been positive. However, we are conscious of the high proportion of Muslim (around 22% of the student population at QM according to a recent survey) students at Queen Mary, and the fact that large numbers of Muslim students pray multiple times per day on campus. Concerns have been raised about whether two multi-faith rooms can cater for the needs for everyone on campus.
At the Student Council meeting on Tuesday 27 November, a motion was passed to mandate the Union to lobby the college to address this situation. After successful Students’ Union lobbying, the College, has agreed to keep the IRC building available as an ‘overflow’ space for Muslim prayer for the next three months, in order to gauge need.
The Multi-Faith Rooms are now open and a December timetable based on the consultation sessions will be published shortly. The rooms provide for open times for prayer, worship and reflection for students and staff from all faiths and beliefs, and for times booked by specific groups. We will continue to consult with students and staff as the rooms are opened this month.
The Union also reminds students that St Benet’s Chaplaincy beside the Queen’s Building is available all year round, including Christmas Day.
Click here to view their website.
We ask for all groups and individuals to continue to accommodate each other with mutual respect and understanding. Please email if you have
adam.mcgibbon@qmsu.org any further queries.