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Everyone in the UK has the right to religious freedom and there are many faiths practiced. The Christian faith is the largest in the UK but we also have one of the largest Muslim communities in Western Europe with over 1.6 million people and more than 1,000 mosques and prayer centres.

There are also in excess of 336,000 people within the Sikh community in the UK. The largest groups are concentrated in Greater London, Manchester and Birmingham.

The UK Hindu community has in excess of 600,000 people. The first Hindu temple was opened in London in 1962 and there are now over 140 throughout the UK.

There are also over a quarter of a million Jewish people in the UK and approximately 150,000 Buddhists. Each religion has places of worship in each town and city.

The Chaplains can be contacted at the Chaplaincy office in the Student Centre. You don't need an appointment. If a Chaplain isn't available you can contact them by email, phone, or by leaving a message at the reception desk at the Student Centre.

The Chaplains provide an independent and confidential service. They offer friendship, support and time for everyone as they face the challenges of University life here at Teesside. They are here to listen, not to tell you what to do or think. If they can't help directly, they normally know someone who can.

Our resident Chaplain is Reverend Andrew Howard – you can contact him on 01642 342708.

The Little House, 96 Park Lane (just behind Parkside Halls)

This is the University's multi-faith and chaplaincy meeting place. Although it's mainly used by students, you can drop in to meet other people and often share some international food and good conversation each Tuesday evening from 7.00pm to 10.00pm.

Pick up a programme of events and other opening times from the reception desk in Student Services. The Chaplains can also provide contacts and information about most religious traditions in the Teesside area.

There are four different traditions of Buddhism active in Middlesbrough: New Kadampa, Nicheren, Vadrajana and Zen. They meet regularly at the Middlesbrough Quaker Meeting House on Cambridge Road, Middlesbrough. T: 01642 851919.

All Saints, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough. T: 01642 820304 St Barnabas Church, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough. T: 01642 812622.

Roman Catholic Sacred Heart, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough. T: 01642 356654. Methodist Church, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough. T: 01642 813089. Baptist Church, Cambridge Road, Middlesbrough. T: 01642 826929.

Quaker, The Friends Meeting House, Cambridge Road, Middlesbrough. T: 01642 851919.

Greek Orthodox, St Columba's Church (next to Sainsbury's supermarket) . Middlesbrough. T: 01642 824779.

The Hindu Cultural Centre, 54 Westbourne Grove, North Ormesby. T: 01642 218428. Meals are served every day, except Saturdays, for a small price to anyone who wishes to eat there.

Middlesbrough’s principal mosque, Jamia Al Medina was opened in 1976 in Waterloo Road. There are now five mosques in Middlesbrough and Muslims are the second largest religious group in the town after the Christians.

In 1998 Radio Ramadhan was inaugurated broadcasting in four languages – Urdu, Punjabi, Mirpuri and English.

Jamia Al Medina Mosque, 133 Waterloo Road, Middlesbrough. T: 01642 245855.

Abu Bakr Mosque, 9 Park Road North, Middlesbrough. T: 01642 873305.

Dar-Ul-Islam Central Mosque, 30 Southfield Road, Middlesbrough. T: 01642 884224.

The University also has a dedicated Muslim Prayer Room on the campus.

Hebrew Prayer Room, Linthorpe Cemetery. Middlesbrough. T: 01642 515664.

Darlington Liberal Jewish Synagogue, Darlington. T: 01325 252234.

The Sikh Temple, 23 Lorne Street, Middlesbrough. T: 01642 826215.