Experts explore the place of religious buildings in Leicester

Issued by University of Leicester Press Office on 20 July 2012

Members of the public interested in Leicester’s faith buildings and heritage are invited to a free, one day conference on July 26th.

The event, from 9.30am till 4pm at St Martin’s House in Peacock Lane will provide an update on the University of Leicester’s Mapping Faith and Place project. The project created a faith trail around the city’s key religious buildings, including the Jain Centre, the Central Mosque and St Mary de Castro.

The project has also created an interactive map displaying current and former places of worship in Leicester and Leicestershire, available online here: http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/archaeology/research/projects/mapping-faith

There will be guest speakers from faith groups, English Heritage, the city council and the University and a chance to debate the role of faith buildings.

Dr Ruth Young, Senior Lecturer in the University’s School of Archaeology & Ancient History, said, “Given the religious diversity of Leicester it is important that buildings and sacred spaces important to a representative range of faith groups are considered as part of our heritage.  We hope this conference will raise questions about how we understand different faith buildings, and what they mean to different communities.”

Lunch and refreshments will be provided. For further details and to book a place, please contact Heather Lomas on office@heatherlomas.co.uk or 0116 270 0386.

Notes to editors:

For interviews, contact Deirdre O’Sullivan, dmo@le.ac.uk , 0116 252 2607 or Ruth Young rly3@le.ac.uk , 0116 252 2564 – both in the School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester.