These reports provide an insight into places of worship in Leeds. They were written by students taking the Religion in Modern Britain module.

Buddhism:

Laura Metcalfe visited the Leeds Jamyang Buddhist Centre in 2018. She reflects on her visit:

The most significant aspect which I will take away from this visit was how Buddhist teachings relate to everyday life, whether you are a part of the Buddhist religion or not ... The experience not only met but exceeded my expectations, it was a valuable experience which allowed me to reflect on my initial assumptions about what a Buddhist Centre would be like.

Read Sarah's report here: Jamyang Buddhist Centre Report

Josh House visited the Wat Buddharam in Headingley. He reflects on his visit:

The Wat Buddharam was perfect; learning about a different religious tradition, an insight into lives unalike my own, and monastics! The visit to the Wat helped me to understand the vital role that it plays within the life of the local Thai community.

Read Josh's report here: Visit to the Wat Buddharam (2017)

Gabi Symons visited Leeds Jamyang Buddhist Centre. She reflects on her visit:

One thing I found interesting was hearing and researching different opinions on whether Buddhism is classified as a religion or not, by the people who practice it. I enjoyed comparing that with my own opinions of the extent to which Buddhism classifies as a religion, realising how my insider role to a different religion played a part in influencing my opinions, and seeing how my opinion changed as my research developed.

Read Gabi's report here: Visit to Jamyang Buddhist Centre (2014)

Christianity:

Rosa Digby visited Leeds Quaker Meeting House.  She said of her visit:

I really enjoyed visiting Leeds Central Quaker Meeting House, not only because it gave me the opportunity to learn and engage with a religion I had little previous understanding of, but also due to the ingrained welcoming and inclusive nature of their meetings. It was also interesting to witness a religion which negates the majority of generalisations made about religions.

Read Rosa's report here: Visit to Leeds Quaker Meeting House (2019)

Ffion Williams visited Leeds Quaker Meeting house. She reflects on her visit:

I decided to visit the Quaker Meeting House as I had little knowledge and understanding of the faith. The main focus of my visit was on gender equality as I wanted to understand if men and women had particular roles to play within the tradition. My visit was a useful way to experience the practice of this Christian denomination.

Read Ffion's report here: Visit to Leeds Quaker Meeting House (2017)

Hinduism:

Mia Tuckey visited the Leeds Mandir. She reflects on her visit:

Visiting the Leeds Hindu Mandir was really insightful, especially given that I had a quite basic knowledge of the religion prior to my fieldwork. It was great to learn about Hinduism within the specific context of Leeds; I found it really interesting to see how the Mandir functions as a space to create a diasporic community.

Read Mia's report here: Visit to the Leeds Hindu Mandir (2017)

Kerri-Anne visited the Leeds Mandir. Kerri-Anne says of her visit:

I feel I have gained an insight into the Hindu community in Leeds, despite being an outsider to this community. I knew very little about Hinduism before undertaking my fieldwork report, and have gained a great deal from this experience.

Read Kerri-Anne's report here: Visit to a Hindu Mandir (2014)

Islam:

Martha-Scott Cracknell visited Leeds Grand Mosque. She reflects on her visit:

Before my fieldwork experience at Leeds Grand Mosque, I'd never had direct insight into a Muslim community, but this opportunity enabled me to do this, as well as understand Muslim identity in Leeds and interaction with wider society. I was also able to meet individuals and understand how they have been shaped by effects of Islamic trans nationalism and migration which I found very interesting.

Read Martha's report here: Visit to Leeds Grand Mosque (2015)

Sikhism:

Ujjwala Harshavardhan visited the GNNSJ Gurdwara. She reflects on her visit:

Visiting the gurudwara played a large role in challenging my perception of the insider/outsider problem, especially in relation to my own cultural and religious background. This fieldwork project also allowed me to see how a diaspora community integrates with and adds to British society. Actually going to visit meant that I had a much clearer understanding than from books alone.

Read Ujj's report here: Visit to Beeston Gurdwara (2015)

Rachael Vickerman visited a Sikh Gurdwara. She reflects:

Studying TRS at Leeds has offered me so many opportunities to see for myself how religions work in our local community, and how believers maintain or reinvent their traditions in diasporas today. I enjoyed putting what I'd read about Sikhism being a religion of gender equality to the test on Diwali, one of the busiest and most colourful nights in the Sikh calendar.

Read Rachael's report here: Visit to a Sikh Temple (2014)