For the past six years, St. James the Great Parish Church and Pudsey Islamic Community Mosque have hosted a monthly community meal to build friendships between Christians and Muslims and provide a hot meal for local residents in need.

With a new grant from Westhill, we are developing this partnership further. A key new initiative will be a women’s Christian–Muslim dialogue group, beginning in December 2025, which will meet monthly to deepen understanding and strengthen community ties.

Who we are

St. James the Great Parish Church is a Church of England church situated on the edge of Leeds and Bradford, serving the communities of Woodhall and Waterloo. Our parish centre is a well-used community resource and the only community space available for hire within the parish. It is regularly used by a wide range of groups, including the Pudsey Islamic Community Mosque, who use the hall and meeting rooms for prayer. Ensuring this space remains affordable and accessible is a key strategic priority for the church.

As a parish church, we believe it is vital to support everyone in our community, regardless of background or belief. Alongside our Monday afternoon Stay and Play group, we are proud of our strong and growing relationships with our Muslim neighbours. We are therefore delighted to have received a grant from Westhill, which will enable us to develop our engagement further, particularly through our monthly community meal, attended by around 30–40 people from both the mosque and church. We now hope to make these meals increasingly dialogical and focused on building deeper understanding between our communities.

For more information, please contact email St James's Office by clicking here.