University news

Mandy Evans Ewing has been appointed as the first Humanist Chaplain at the University of Glasgow.

Providing support and guidance for students, Mandy is amongst the first of the Humanist representatives in education to take up a permanent honorary Chaplain’s position at a UK University. Her activities will involve contributing to interfaith gatherings, providing pastoral care and rites of passage ceremonies for those who desire a non-religious service, and participating in the Interfaith Council and the Religion and Belief Equality Group.

Registered as a Humanist Society of Scotland Celebrant since 2001, Mandy is also a qualified Social Worker and is actively interested in the arts.

She said: “I have provided chaplaincy support at the University on and off for a few years in an unofficial capacity so it is fantastic to now have a permanent position. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to University life in this way. I look forward to developing the chaplaincy work with the chaplaincy team and doing what I can for staff and students.”

Mandy will join a large group of Chaplains already based at the University including Church of Scotland, Roman Catholic, Episcopal (Anglican), Free Church, International, Baptist, Methodist, Jewish, Buddhist, and Muslim Chaplains. The University Chaplaincy also enjoys excellent relations and has regular contact with representatives of the Ba'hai, Hindu, and Sikh faith communities.

The University Chaplaincy is a resource for people of all faith communities and those of none. A new prayer room, with adjacent washing facilities, is available for prayer and reflection or simply as a quiet place at the heart of the University. Christian services are held at the University Chapel, situated within the main building of the University.

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Notes to editors

For more information please contact Kate Richardson in the University of Glasgow Media Relations Office on 0141 330 3683 or email K.Richardson@admin.glasgow.ac.uk

 

First published: 24 April 2008