About 40 people from different faiths assembled in Holy Angels new Parish Hall for
the first AIG Quiz since COVID, and it proved to be a great success. We were
fortunate in having John Moran, from St Vincent’s Church, as Quizmaster as he had
prepared an excellent set of questions, and all the teams were very closely matched.
One or two faith-based questions popped up now and again, but mainly they were
based on general knowledge and it was a question of working together to figure out
the answers. There was also a page of questions on each table, to be puzzled over
during the course of the quiz, the answer to each being a colour, and that proved
very challenging indeed.
We are most grateful to John, to Holy Angels Church for the use of their excellent
Parish Hall and to all the members of AIG who worked to make the event possible.
Carolyn Jones
(Hon. Sec., Altrincham Interfaith Group)

This year’s lecture was entitled “Where did we come from? Questions and Answers
from Creation Stories” and delivered by Dr James Holt, Associate Professor of
Religious Education at the University of Chester and member of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. The speaker was a specialist in world religions and
explained that in all the major religions there was always something there before the
universe as we know it was created, beyond time, while universes are constantly
created and destroyed. He then gave examples from various religious texts about
the nature of creation and showed that there are common themes in them all – that
from chaos came cosmos, from no-thing came some-thing. The use of stories to
explain this is central to who we are and helps us to understand the big picture –
they tell us what is important and give directions on how to lead our lives.
A common thread running through the major religions is the universal presence of
God and that humanity is one. He stressed how all creation is inter-related, and that
man is the steward of the earth, and there is no excuse for treating the earth
carelessly. We have a responsibility to care for all. This idea is very important to an
interfaith gathering, especially in times of political turmoil, and his message of the
unity of all beings was very appropriate.
There was a lively question and answer session following Dr Holt’s talk and, after he
was presented with a gift of appreciation, Elinor Chohan, Chair of AIG, thanked him
and people had the opportunity to mingle and chat while enjoying refreshments.
We are most grateful to Holy Angels for allowing us the use of their new Parish Hall
and to all those members of AIG who managed the refreshments and helped the
evening to run smoothly.
Carolyn Jones
(Hon. Sec., Altrincham Interfaith Group)

About 20 members of Altrincham Interfaith Group went on this visit to the Jewish
Museum on Cheetham Hill Road (see photos). The museum has recently been
refurbished and an extension housing a café, meeting rooms and an exhibition area
built on what had previously been a garden. It was very modern and displays
included various artefacts brought over by the Jews fleeing oppression such as
household items, and objects from their professions – a dressmaker bought her
special box of pins that would strap to her wrist, a baker bought cooking implements
etc. There were recordings of their experiences and some film showing photographs
of the old shops and businesses in the area. A guide was there to answer questions
and after being shown the synagogue we were left to browse the various displays. It
was a very interesting afternoon which everyone enjoyed.

Carolyn Jones
Hon. Sec., Altrincham Interfaith Group)

On a lovely sunny afternoon, over 70 people from diverse faiths gathered at Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College in Altrincham to share food and friendship. It was wonderful to see people from different faiths and cultures chatting together and sharing a most delicious tea brought by those attending.
Everyone was welcomed by the AIG Chair, Elinor Chohan, after which prayers were said by members of the Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Baha’i faiths before plates of sandwiches, savouries and cakes were brought in to enjoy. Then the Guest speaker, Dr Mona Dillon from the Baha’i community gave an address entitled “Different Religions – One Purpose” in which she stated the ideals of religion including forging good character, promoting the search for truth and betterment of the world by instilling compassion and tolerance. She said that true religion should be in harmony with science and stressed the oneness of humankind, thus invalidating all past notions of the superiority of any race, sex
or nationality. She emphasised the importance of the contribution of other religions and their prophets who awakened in whole populations the capacity to love, to forgive, to sacrifice for the common good and to discipline the impulses of humanity’s baser instincts.
The Baha’i faith has endeavoured to extend this and to build communities that are founded on the oneness of humanity, and to engage in social action with the aim of advancing society. Her final inspiring sentence was to quote the words of Bahá’u’lláh, founder of the Baha’i faith “The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens”, something we could all do well to remember.
We were also privileged to hear Karen Wilson speak to us in her role as Deputy Lieutenant, “the Eyes and Ears of the Monarchy”. She noted how King Charles had described himself as Defender of all Faiths, rather than one, and pledged to protect multiple faiths in diverse communities. At his Coronation, he was greeted by representatives of other faiths – the first time this had happened, and he is continuing his vision of interfaith work. It is wonderful, she said, to have a Monarch that pushes forward with interfaith dialogue, and she described
the work of Altrincham Interfaith Group as being immensely powerful, and a force to help with change.
After those uplifting addresses, Elinor Chohan, AIG Chair, briefly described AIG activities over the past year and then Ann Angel, Vice-Chair, promoted future events and the afternoon came to an end. It really was a very inspiring day, enjoyed by all.