The Emmanuel Centre
When was the church built?
The building was consecrated on 15th September 1880 by the Bishop of Ripon. It was a parish church before it was a chaplaincy, one of many churches built around the end of the 1800s in Leeds to extend the reach of the church beyond the central Minster. It has served the university for many years as a central space for the chaplaincy, but is still officially owned by the Anglican Church.
When was it renovated?
The building as it is now was opened on the 21st October 2004. As much of the original building was kept in place as possible. The Chaplaincy runs out of the north end of the building, whereas the seminar rooms to the right as you walk in are owned and used by the university. The building has never been deconsecrated. The unusual glass floor in the foyer area was a result of the Victorian society’s strict requirements that the beautifully painted ceiling must be visible from the ground floor of the building.
Are the stained glass windows original?
The windows are half original. The patterned glass was rescued from the windows and they were reinstalled with the surrounding plain glass after a fire.
Is there a Muslim prayer space in the chaplaincy building?
The Emmanuel Centre is consecrated as a place of Christian worship; anyone can come to our chapel to spend some time reflecting or praying, but it is not a designated space for Muslim prayer. There are lots of spaces for Islamic prayer provided by the universities. Please check your institution’s website, or ask for details.