As a diverse community, Exeter is home to various different places of worship in which people of the same beliefs can join together. Religion is a very important factor in many people’s existence, and it dictates the way in which they lead their lives. As a result, it’s vitally important that people from all backgrounds have a safe space in which they can communicate with their god or gods. Religion has the power to bring individuals from all walks of life together, and the specific buildings are the foundations of these communities. To that end, listed below are just some of the places of worship in Exeter in which followers of these religions can fulfill their duties to their god(s).
Exeter Cathedral
First up is Exeter Cathedral, which isn’t just a Christian place of worship, but also a world-class heritage destination. The building has stood in the heart of Devon for almost 1000 years and has been characterised as a place of reflection and refuge for all this time. As well as being a place for prayer, it’s also a stage for musicians, performers, and artists, showing the way in which religion and culture go hand in hand. To this day, it’s renowned for being a retreat for relaxation, a place for learning, and ultimately a home to living faith. As a centre of innovation, it’s home to ancient treasures, which tell stories of the past, all while conserving them for the future.
Exeter Mosque
Exeter Mosque was established as Muslims were gathering for communal worship and needed an official space to pray. As a result, the building that’s now known as Exeter Mosque was purchased on 1 December 1976. To begin with, the Mosque was only attracting around 80 visitors; today, though, upwards of 2000 Muslims of all ages, races, professions, and personalities attend the Exeter Mosque on a regular basis. Consequently, Muslims of Exeter now have a space to engage with and donate to Muslim Aid appeals, such as Qurbani. Islam is all about joining together as a community, and this is what the building stands for.
Exeter Hindu Cultural Centre
Hinduism is another relatively common religion throughout the UK, and the Exeter Hindu Cultural Centre is the ideal location for devout Hindus to get together and pray. As far as gods are concerned, beliefs are divided in the Hindu community. For instance, around half of the Hindu community believes that there’s one God, and there are multiple manifestations of this one God. Others believe that there is one God and one God only. Regardless of the school of thought followed by the individual, though, anyone and everyone is welcome to the Exeter Hindu Cultural Centre.
Exeter Diamond Way Buddhist Centre
The Diamond Way Buddhist Centre is situated just a five-minute walk outside Exeter’s city centre in a detached cottage that has been around for upwards of 300 years. Since, it has been modernised; however, it still boasts some of its original features. Buddhism revolves around meditation, and the meditation room sits on the ground floor, creating a comfortable space with traditional Buddhist art and a contemporary setting combined. This is in addition to the small library of Buddhist DVDs, magazines, books, and live streamings of lectures with Lama Ole Nydahl.
Exeter Synagogue
Exeter has had a Jewish community for upwards of 250 years, and the Synagogue was built in 1763. It may be small, but it’s an incredibly beautiful building and is still regularly used for its services. Ultimately, it acts as a focal point for the Jewish identity, being representative of Jews that live across the South West.
© 2023 The Havok Journal
The Havok Journal welcomes re-posting of our original content as long as it is done in compliance with our Terms of Use.