Iftars at cathedrals spark debate

Anglican Mainstream, a conservative-leaning organisation, has said that churches and cathedrals must be used for Christian worship only in response to some hosting Islamic events.

There has been some debate over the difficulty during Ramadan in light of past iftars at cathedrals, including Bristol Cathedral in 2024 and 2025. An iftar is a night meal that marks the tip of a day’s fasting for Ramadan.

While some thought Bristol Cathedral hosted one again this yr, its Chapter Clerk, Ben Silvey, clarified that while iftars had “proudly” taken place within the previous two years, there was no such event this yr.

He added that commentators were likely confusing the cathedral with the nearby Cathedral School, which he said “frequently hosts one”.

Whatever the case, there is no such thing as a dispute that iftars have previously been held not only in Bristol Cathedral, but in other cathedrals.

Silvey said the cathedral had hosted iftars within the previous two years “to counteract a few of the divisions in our community that we feel very keenly in the meanwhile”,  and further clarified that the adhan – the Muslim call to prayer – had not taken place throughout the cathedral. 

“Both [iftars] were undertaken with much consultation and prayer before committing to them – with the adhan being the main target of much of that discussion. In each cases the adhan was not said within the cathedral – but space was made outside of the constructing for that and for prayers,” he said. 

“I say this not in defence, but to counteract the narrative … that cathedrals are ultimately losing their give attention to faith in Jesus Christ. We are absolutely motivated by following Him – and finding ways to attach with our whole community (as a constructing that also holds civic responsibilities).”

This yr Winchester Cathedral played host to an “educational Iftar meal”, even though it took place within the pavilion refectory, fairly than within the most important sanctuary. The event was billed as an interfaith dinner, marking the undeniable fact that Lent and Ramadan overlap this yr, something that is not going to occur again until 2057.

Anglican Mainstream said that while it welcomed “common community motion with our Muslim neighbours” it is vital for Christian leaders to preserve the sanctity and purpose of their worship spaces.

The group said that “religious buildings are set apart and dedicated for the actual use of their community”.

“Therefore they’re for use for and by the religious community to which they belong just for gatherings which are in conformity with the teaching and traditions of that community,” it said. 

“Therefore a Christian church can no more be used with integrity to host an event whose assumptions are at odds with acknowledging Jesus as Lord than Christians would expect a mosque to host a Christmas or Easter celebration.”

These thoughts were echoed by Christian Concern’s Tim Dieppe who, while sharing his thoughts on the continuing controversy over Islamic prayers in Trafalgar Square, commented on Christian places of worship hosting iftars.

“You can’t allow the proclamation that Allah is the best god in a spot dedicated to worship of the Christian God. That is a breach of canon law,” he said. 

He added, “Somehow, I can’t imagine any mosque allowing proclamation of the gospel of their premises, let alone an act of Christian worship to happen there. 

“Nick Timothy was quite right to say that the decision to prayer explicitly repudiates Christianity and so doesn’t belong in churches or cathedrals.”