Reviews:
Monday 6th July – Inspirational Evening – “Invoking Peace” Peace Poetry & Prayer Workshop – Guest Speaker Caroline Sherwood, author and peace activist.
Caroline who will be taking us on a journey through poetry and prayer. In her own words:
“In my book, “Naming: Choosing a Meaningful Name”, I point out that words and how we use them affect our experience of reality.
In religious and spiritual tradition words in the form of mantra, prayers, spells and invocations have been used since ancient times to bring about changes in material existence.
As ‘activists’ of any kind, we have three major resources at our disposal – body, speech and mind. In other words, we can help in a myriad of ways by what we do, what we say and what we think.
Knowing the power of poetry and prayer and the connection between the two, it occurred to me that by gathering to share, listen to and breathe in the words of poets who’ve gone before us, and by creating our own poetic prayers and prayerful poems, we can make a contribution to the global Field of Peace which is being generated from the hearts and minds of so many
at this critical time on Earth.
It is my intention that by focusing on Peace together in this way, we will deepen our understanding of what it is, and discover how to dissolve obstacles to it and how we may better embody it.
The workshop will include readings, meditation, discussion, writing exercises and the opportunity to create your own poem/prayer.”
This evening is open to members and friends and will be just perfect for beginners and seasoned poets alike – it would be great if folk could register interest by emailing us on info@cheltenhaminterfaith.org.uk as soon as you can or just turn up on the night ………….. and bring a notebook and pen with you if you remember – resources will be made available if not.
Between 7pm and 9pm at Friends Meeting House Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Warwick Place, GL52 2NP.
Monday 1st June – Inspirational Talk – Guest Speaker Sue Baggott, newly appointed President of Cheltenham Spiritualist Church. Who will give a talk on the history of the Church in Cheltenham. We will learn about the Seven Principles of Spiritualism which includes the Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Man, the practice and significance of healing in Spiritualism, take a look through their Hymn Book and contemporary songs such as “Angels” by Robbie Williams and ABBA’s “I have a Dream”, outline the work of the Spiritualist’s National Union (SNU),and gain some insight into the life and work of Henry Budd JP, who not only founded the Spiritualist Church here in Cheltenham but also contributed greatly to the social fabric of our town and left a lasting legacy. Sue welcomes questions and is sure the evening will include a bit of myth busting. Do join us for what will be an informative and inspiring evening. Between 7pm and 9pm at Friends Meeting House Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Warwick Place, GL52 2NP.
Monday 11th May – Inspirational Talk – Guest Speaker Khalid Tai Secretary of Masjidul Falah Mosque Cheltenham. Slowly but surely over the last few years we have been building relations with Khaild and his faith community at the Masjidul Falah Mosque in the lower high street. We are delighted and grateful that he will be joining us to share his journey of faith and recent pilgrimage to Mecca. Do join us for what will be an informative and inspiring evening. Between 7pm and 9pm at Friends Meeting House Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Warwick Place, GL52 2NP.
The Michael Perham University and Cathedral Lecture 2026 – Wednesday May 6th at 7.00pm in the University Chapel Education, Justice and Spirituality: is spirituality the missing ingredient to our underperforming education and justice systems?
presented by the Reverend Canon Steve Chalke MBE, founder of the Oasis Trust.
Steve is a distinguished author, speaker, former UN Special Advisor on Human Trafficking, and Baptist minister. In 1985, he founded the Oasis Trust, a leading charity dedicated to building inclusive local communities.
Today, Oasis operates across multiple countries, providing housing, education, healthcare, and various community-building initiatives. In England, Oasis runs 56 schools and recently opened Oasis Restore, the UK’s first Secure School – a groundbreaking therapeutic alternative to youth prisons designed to support high-risk children and young people in the justice system. Steve is also a regular media commentator, and his latest book is called A Manifesto for Hope.
Please book for the lecture on Eventbrite here. There will be a retiring collection to support the work of the Oasis Charitable Trust.
The lecture is taking place at the University Chapel, Francis Close Hall, Cheltenham GL50 4AZ. Pay and display parking is available at the campus.
Monday 13th April – Annual General Meeting – followed by Guest Speaker James Glansfield Gloucestershire Police on the subject of “Inter Faith relations in Gloucestershire”. 7pm – 9pm, at Quaker Meeting House, Warwick Place, Cheltenham, GL52 2NP.
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for our AGM.
For your support, contributions and pointers during the evening, and for your welcome of our guest speaker James Glansfield from Gloucestershire Police.
James was scheduled to give a talk for 1/2 hour and discussions could have continued but we had to stop at the hour mark. Clearly there is a lot more to discuss around policing and, especially for us, in the development of inter faith relations across our town and even county wide.
Let’s see this initial meeting as a starter for ten to help build close relations and arrange regular future meetings together.
Thank you James for being with us!
Monday 2nd March – Inspirational Talk – Near Death Experiences ‘NDE ‘s‘, what are they really? what do they tell us about life? what do they tell us about death? is there a before, an after, or even an in between??? With Special Guest Speaker Regina Baumgart. Regina Baumgart has a background in natural sciences, but for many years now her focus is on human nature, personal development and spiritual and religious experience. She has been working as a facilitator, workshop leader and meditation teacher with the Brahma Kumaris for many years. Regina will facilitate a discussion on NDEs after a short presentation of well known facts and her own insights. 7pm and 9pm at Friends Meeting House, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Warwick Place, GL52 2NP
Thursday 19th February – Inspirational Talk – Buddhism through the Ages – Part 2 – Following on the success of his talk last November, we are delighted to welcome back Matt Harvey to continue this journey through the ages of Buddhism. 7pm – 9pm, at Quaker Meeting House, Warwick Place, Cheltenham, GL52 2NP.
Saturday 7th February 7pm – Peace Feast and Conversations with our Guests from Palestine – St Philip and St James Church ,Grafton Street, Leckhampton, GL50 2DD – click here for details: Ramallah Visit 2025 — Pip and Jims
Monday 2nd February – Inspirational Evening – “It All Started with a Ball of Light from Space” An Introduction to SUBUD “Susila Budhi Dharma” Welcome to our small yet worldwide multi faith spiritual community History, purpose and charitable work. 7pm – 9pm, at Quaker Meeting House, Warwick Place, Cheltenham, GL52 2NP.
Tuesday 27th January 6.30pm – Holocaust Memorial Day – Holocaust Memorial Day – Cheltenham’s Act of Remembrance at New venue – to be confirmed shortly before event event tickets from TicketSource
Monday 19th January – Inspirational Evening – “Dialogue in Action” what does this mean to you? what does it look like in Cheltenham, what could it become? and what can Cheltenham Inter Faith initiate locally in keeping with our Constitution Click here – The Constitution CIF – 7pm – 9pm, at Quaker Meeting House, Warwick Place, Cheltenham, GL52 2NP.