Prayer, contemplation and faith-based support
Our quiet spaces, prayer facilities and faith-based support give you the chance to take a break, reflect, and connect with local faith communities.
The University has a number of spaces on campus available for prayer and quiet contemplation, whether you practise a particular faith or not. If you practise a faith, you can be confident that you will be able to follow your beliefs in Leeds and find support and information related to your faith.
Prayer
Emmanuel Centre
The Emmanuel Centre is a space managed by the Universities’ Chaplaincy in Leeds (the Christian Chaplaincy for the University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Arts University and University of Law, Leeds). There is space for private prayer in the Claire Chapel. For more information about current activities, upcoming events and current opening times at the Chaplaincy visit the Chaplaincy website.
Catholic Chaplaincy
The Catholic Chaplaincy is another of the buildings used by the Universities’ Chaplaincy in Leeds. For more information about Catholic Chaplaincy events and worship visit the Catholic Chaplaincy website.
Islamic Prayer Rooms
The Green Room
The Green Room is our main Islamic prayer space on campus, open Monday to Friday 11.00 - 23.00 and located on the side of the Conference Auditorium, behind the Edge. It offers separate prayer rooms, ablution and washroom facilities for brothers and sisters, and has disabled access and washroom facilities. Contact equality@leeds.ac.uk to ask for the access code for the Green Room.
Cemetery Lodge – closing until January 2024
This week the ground floor of Cemetery Lodge is open but all other areas are closed for health and safety reasons. Sisters’ prayer and ablution areas are open. Brothers’ ablution areas are open. Brothers’ prayer facilities are now in the new temporary prayer space on Clarendon Road.
This historic building on the edge of St Georges field is due to be reopened in January 2024 after work to enlarge and enhance the spaces for brothers and sisters.
Clarendon Road Temporary Prayer Space – partially open
During the refurbishment of Cemetery Lodge, there will be temporary prayer spaces and washroom facilities for brothers and sisters in cabins just outside St Georges field on Clarendon Road (next to Henry Price Residence), open Monday to Friday 11.00 - 19.00.
The brothers’ prayer space is now open. Please keep checking this page for more information on the opening date of the other facilities at this prayer space.
For more information about prayer facilities, contact the Leeds University Union Islamic Society or Sister Farhat Yaqoob, Muslim Student Adviser, on f.yaqoob@leeds.ac.uk.
Jewish Chaplaincy
The Jewish Chaplaincy can be found within the Hillel Student Centre. The Hillel House Synagogue has regular Morning Prayer services and offers Orthodox and Egalitarian Friday night services.
Leeds University Union Building
LUU offers a reflection room on level 1 and ablution facilities are available. You can find out more about the facilities from the staff at the Help & Support desk in LUU Foyer.
Edward Boyle Library
There is a small prayer room on level 11 (north side) of the Edward Boyle Library. The occupancy is currently limited to 1 person at a time. The door is kept unlocked. Ask at the Edward Boyle enquiry desk if you need help to access it.
Laidlaw Library
There is a prayer room available in room G08 on level 3 of the Laidlaw Library with capacity for up to 8 people. Ask at the Laidlaw Library enquiry desk if you need help to access it.
Health Sciences Library
There is a prayer room available in the Health Sciences Library. Ask at the Health Sciences enquiry desk to access it.
Spaces for quiet contemplation on campus
St George’s Field
Hidden within the campus is a cemetery site called St George’s Field, which is an important piece of Leeds's Victorian history. St George’s Field is a peaceful green space to visit.
Chancellor’s Court
Another outdoor space you might want to bear in mind if you're looking for peace and quiet is Chancellor’s Court – an open area next to the Roger Stevens Lecture Theatre.
Indoor spaces
Quiet space indoors might be hard to come by during term-time. However, the Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery (currently closed) is a hidden gem at the heart of the University of Leeds campus, which houses temporary exhibitions and treasures from the University’s art collection.
Other spaces
It may sometimes be possible to use a vacant classroom, meeting room or private study area for prayer or contemplation. Please check with the reception, porter or security staff first, to find out if the space is available. For health and safety reasons, corridors and stairwells need to be kept clear, so they can’t be used for prayer.
Faith-based support
You can find support and information related to your faith from chaplains and faith-based advisers and Leeds University Union student faith societies.