Pembroke College Opens Multi-Faith Prayer Room

Our new multi-faith prayer room, open every day, provides all students and staff with a quiet space for prayer and reflection.

On Thursday 20th April we invited faith leaders from the College and wider Oxford community to a formal blessing of the prayer room. The Master, Chaplain, Operations Bursar and Access Fellow were pleased to welcome Shaunaka Rishi Das, Hindu Chaplain and Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, and Michael Rosenfeld-Schueler, Jewish Chaplain with the Oxford Jewish Chaplaincy. They were also joined by MCR member and Access Rep Yaseen Christian Andrewsen (2021, DPhil Theology and Religion), who was instrumental in the creation of the prayer room.

L-R: Yaseen Christian Andrewsen, Shaunaka Rishi Das, Sir Ernest Ryder, Dr Andrew Teal, Vanessa Gouws, Michael Rosenfeld-Schueler, Dr Peter Claus

The Revd Dr Andrew Teal (Pembroke Chaplain), Michael Rosenfeld-Schueler, and Lama Alhelou (Pembroke staff) each said a few words of blessing and prayer in representation of the diverse faith groups at Pembroke. Yaseen then spoke personally and on behalf of the student community to thank those who have worked to make the prayer room a reality.

The new space has been gratefully received by students and staff, with one member of College staff commenting that “having a comfortable space to pray in College has been a welcome addition to the working environment.”

We hope that the prayer room will support our aim of ensuring that Pembroke is a welcoming, inclusive and accessible place to live, study and work.

Pembroke Chaplain, the Revd Dr Andrew Teal, reflects: “We are delighted that this provides a resource in College for people of all faiths and none who would benefit from a place of focus, prayer, and reflection. Pembroke College is committed to making sure that people who come to study or work here do not have to leave anything core to their identity outside when they enter College. We are aware noted that spaces like these can be lifelines and contribute to success and fulfilment in study and work. We celebrate the presence of diverse cultures and beliefs in our community, each properly belonging and mutually contributing to the common good. We hope that this provision will be a really significant factor in the welfare provision of the College.”