London Inter Faith Centre

Director

Fergus Capie is an Anglican priest who, when appointed Inter Faith Adviser to the Bishop of Willesden in the Diocese of London, proposed the inclusion of an inter faith component in a local church re-build, leading to what is now London Inter Faith Centre, of which he is founder and director. He says his commitment is to those `of all faiths and none` – resourcing and challenging individual and corporate journeys in a fast changing world, and helping seeking to make sense of `galloping religiosity` alongside continuing secularism, daily challenged by what we can learn from one another through increased mutuality and interaction.

Assistant to the Director

Laurence Hillel is an Anglican priest who, prior to joining the staff, had completed the LIFC Certificate in Inter Faith Relations, before going on to the London University Heythrop College MA in this area. His particular experience has been first in Jewish-Christian and now increasingly in Jewish-Christian-Muslim relations. Laurence says that “Religious faith touches on the core of human experience. Exploring others` beliefs can enrich and broaden our understanding of one another and also help clarify our own beliefs”.

Administrator

Joseph Voelker, a lawyer by background, is currently helping the Centre as Administrator, while relocating in the UK after moving to London from America. Joe works in the context of the support of our Treasurer Stephen Haggard and Secretary Trish Harris, and Joe`s considerable organising skills means that things happen when they are meant to, and he says that “For me inter faith relations has to be as much about the lack of double bookings in the main Centre Diary as about any agreed pledges or commitments!”

Library

Lesley Daisley is the widow of our local MP Paul Daisley, who, when leader of Brent Council, did so much to further the life of one of the most ethnically and religiously mixed boroughs in the country. Much of Lesley`s time goes on a charity founded to her late husband`s memory (details from pdaisleytrust@aol.com) but she also kindly keeps an eye on the LIFC library, assisted by Liz Morrison and others, and says that “Our increasing number of books on a wide range of related topics is an exciting resource which it is good to help see ever more used”.

Links Co-ordinator

Madelaine Mason co-ordinates a linking of statutory and voluntary sector initiatives in which the faith component is explicitly addressed, though she is also involved in a number of other aspects of the work of the Centre, including, for example, organising a contribution towards the current British Library three faiths scriptures exhibition. Madelaine says of her approach to inter faith work “It feels a privilege to be working with others as part of a process of resourcing closer and fuller contact between those of different backgrounds and ways of seeing things, and – although there are no easy answers – gives some hope for the future”.

Hospitality

Susan Baird, Don Hawkes, Viola Akers, Lee Gordon

The hospitality offered by the Centre is made possible by continual and almost continuous background work by members of the home team such as Susan and Don and Viola and Lee and others – in catering and care of the buildings and a whole variety of ways, for which we can never thank them enough.