UK interfaith leaders convene to chart the future of multi-faith collaboration
Cross communal bodies determined to forge a path forward following closure of Inter Faith Network in 2024
More than 40 key leaders and representatives, drawn from diverse faith and belief organisations across the UK, gathered on Wednesday for a critical meeting to discuss and determine the future of the interfaith movement.
Hosted by the Baha’i community, the event explored establishing a new, sustainable national structure for engagement, following the closure of the Inter Faith Network in 2024.
Established in 1987 to promote good relations between people of different faiths across the UK, the IFN had its estimated £150,000 funding withdrawn last year by the Secretary of State for Communities at the time, Michael Gove. The move came after the IFN appointment of Hassan Joudi, a former deputy secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) as a trustee. Successive governments have had a policy of non-engagement with the MCB, due to concerns about extremism.
This agenda of this week’s meeting focused squarely on what was described as charting a path forward, moving beyond existing challenges to foster deeper cooperation and impact.
The meeting was chaired by Canon Hilary Barber, Vicar of Halifax Minster and one of the final co-Chairs of the Inter Faith Network, and included Jewish community representatives from the Jewish Small Communities Network, Mitzvah Day, Barnet Multi Faith and the Chief Rabbi’s Office.
Stuart Diamond, head of community engagement at JSCN said: “Interfaith cooperation is not a luxury, it is the essential bedrock of a strong civil society, particularly at a time when social cohesion across the UK is being severely tested by global and local tensions.
“The closure of the Inter Faith Network created a worrying void, but this meeting represents a powerful, collective refusal to let division take root. For the Jewish Small Communities Network, the new national structure must focus squarely on strengthening multi-faith social action. When we work side-by-side to serve our neighbours, be it tackling poverty, loneliness, or hate, we don’t just talk about shared values; we actively build the mutual trust and understanding that makes our whole nation more resilient.”
Deepak Naik of contributing body, United Religions Initiative UK, said, “Today marks a pivotal moment for faith and belief communities in the UK. This wasn’t just a meeting; it was a collective commitment to build a stronger, more resilient future for interfaith work. By focusing on shared values and coordinated social action, we can ensure the UK’s rich faith landscape continues to contribute positively to society.”
Canon Hilary Barber said: “I was delighted to chair this meeting. Interfaith dialogue and multi-faith social action are at a vulnerable stage in this country, with the Inter Faith Network closed and conflicts abroad impacting seriously on community relations here. We need a new way forward urgently and the meeting was about starting on that journey.”
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