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Whatever your religion, faith, or worldview we are here to support you. There are also many places to worship in London, and UCL student societies to get involved with.
UCL is a secular institution which upholds a deep-seated commitment to equality and diversity, and which has no religious affiliation and does not endorse any particular denomination or faith. However, UCL is also committed to providing an inclusive learning and working environment where students and staff of all religions, and none, can thrive.
On this page:
- Introducing UCL's Chaplain and Interfaith Adviser
- UCL Chaplaincy team
- Faith and Spirituality at UCL
- Prayer and meditation facilities
- Places of worship in London
- Religion and Belief Equality Policy
Introducing UCL's Chaplain and Interfaith Adviser
Rev'd Reid Humble
I'm here “to provide pastoral support for all students about any issues relating to their faith or religion. You can come and speak to me, in confidence, about any issue regarding your faith or belief background, or, if you don't identify with any faith at all. I'll do my best to help and can sign-post you to other organisations where appropriate.
You can contact me by email, via askUCL, or find me in my office on Level B2 of the Student Centre. I'm always happy to see students for one-to-one appointments. I can also help you find a place of worship here in London.
If you are looking for a place to pray or meditate on campus, there is a large prayer room with ablution facilities attached to it on Level B2 of the Student Centre. Next door to that there's a silent Meditation Room where you can meditate, pray silently, or practice mindfulness.
There's a lot going on amongst faith communities here at UCL, and all major faiths are represented by a student society in the Students' Union. You can go along and meet them at the Welcome Fair at the end of September, or contact them through the Students' Union website.
UCL Chaplaincy team
Prior to UCL’s inception in 1826, a university education was restricted to male members of the Church of England. However, UCL led the way to making education available to all, regardless of race, class or religion, and it was the first university to welcome female students on equal terms with men in 1878.
The UCL Chaplaincy team is here to provide pastoral support and to foster diversity and cohesion amongst staff and students of all religious backgrounds and none in UCL.
- UCL Chaplain and Interfaith Adviser
The Reverend Reid Humble is available to listen and talk in complete confidence to all members of UCL, regardless of religious belief, about any concerns or issues they might have. He can also provide information for those of all faiths and nationalities looking to find a place of worship to attend in London.
If you would like to discuss issues around religion and faith, please get in touch with Reid to arrange a suitable time to meet in person or talk over the phone. You can also book an appointment.
- Catholic Chaplain
- Olivia Coningham-Rolls is available to listen and talk to those of you of the Catholic faith about any concerns or issues you may be experiencing.
At UCL, we have a vibrant Catholic community with regular activities, student Masses, bible studies and a retreat once a year to the Isle of Wight. We also have social and outreach activities. My office is based at Newman House Chaplaincy, 111 Gower Street, WC1E 6AR. I am there on Mondays and Thursdays.
I work in collaboration with the UCL and Newman House Chaplaincy Teams and with the UCL Student Services & Wellbeing Team. I also assist the UCL Catholic Society.
My background:
I am English, with a Portuguese ‘twist’. My family is Catholic and I decided to take my faith on a personal level when I was 16 years old. Later, when I was a student at the University of Southampton, I met the Verbum Dei Missionary Family and I am a member of this community.
I am an accredited and registered psychotherapist. I speak French, Portuguese and Spanish and have lived in Portugal, France, Belgium, Chile and the United States.
I am on the International Board of the World Youth Alliance and a trustee of the Crisis Pregnancy Helpline. I love swimming and in particular in the open sea. I live with my husband in London.
My passion is the human person, that each person becomes integrated and fully who we are designed to be. “You have made us for yourself O Lord and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” St Augustine.
Come and say hello or drop me an email, I look forward to meeting you.
- Jewish Chaplain
Rabbi Gavin Broder can support students with faith-related issues and student activities during their time at university. He can also provide information for those looking to find a Jewish place of worship in London.
If you would like to discuss anything with Gavin, please get in touch.
Faith and Spirituality at UCL
At UCL, you will find a rich mix of students and staff from a wide variety of cultural and religious backgrounds. This creates UCL's diverse community, a key factor contributing to UCL being a world-class institution. Find out more about practising your faith at UCL.
- What's on
We host regular events during term time throughout the academic year to support your faith at UCL.
Silent Meditation sessions are held on Wednesdays from 1.10pm-1.50pm. This is a form of silence meditation that is suitable for people from all faith backgrounds and those from none. As it is silent, we can maintain a variety of intentions while practising together. Sessions are held in the Meditation Room on B2 of the Student Centre. The first one is on 2 October.
A Eucharist is also held on Thursdays from 1.10pm-1.50pm. This is a Christian service of Holy Communion that is open to students of all Christian denominations and those who are just curious. Sessions are held in the Meditation Room on B2 of the Student Centre. The first one is on 3 October.
Student Support and Wellbeing Services offer a range of additional events and activities. Please refer to the webpage for further information.
- Students' Union UCL
A broad range of faiths and spiritualities are represented by a student union society at UCL. Their pages on the Students' Union UCL website are listed below; many of them can also be found on social media platforms.
Prayer and meditation facilities
Meditation Room in the Student Centre
Prayer Room in the Student Centre
Ablution Room in the Student Centre
UCL is proud to provide new facilities for prayer, worship and meditation for students of all faiths and none, which were opened in February 2019 in the Student Centre. There are facilities for prayer and meditation on Floor B2 of the Student Centre, located at 27-28 Gordon Square, London, WC1H 0AW.
The facilities include a large prayer room with ablution facilities attached. There is also a smaller room for silent prayer and meditation available to be booked by Students’ Union UCL faith societies for prayer and worship. Please respect other users and abide by the code of conduct for the facilities.
There are multiple Quiet Contemplation Rooms located in and around UCL. The UCL Go app features a comprehensive list of the prayer and meditation facilities at UCL, including at UCL East.
- Prayer and quiet contemplation facilities outside UCL
UCLH has prayer and quite spaces that are accessible.
In Westfields London Shopping Centre (White City) has a multi-faith worship and prayer area on Floor -3. It is located at the end of the shopping centre near John Lewis. The area is open Mondays to Saturdays from 10am-9pm and on Sundays from 12pm-6pm. It has areas for men and women.
Places of worship in London
You will find people of almost every world faith or belief system living in London. Many places of worship are particularly geared towards welcoming students into their communities. The following is a non-exhaustive list of places of worship close to UCL.
- Buddhist
The London Buddhist Centre runs meditation, yoga and mindfulness classes. It is located in Bethnal Green. The nearest is tube is Bethnal Green, on the Central line.
The Sri Sambodhi Buddhist Meditation Centre is within walking distance of Plainstow Station on the Central Line, or around a 40-minute walk from the UCL East campus.
The West London Buddhist Centre runs course and drop-in sessions in mindfulness, Buddhism, meditation, yoga and qi gong. It is located in Paddington. The nearest tube is Royal Oak on the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines.
- Christian
Newman House is the Roman Catholic chaplaincy for students in London. It is based on Gower Street, very close to the main UCL campus in Bloomsbury.
St Pancras Church is the nearest Anglican (Church of England) church to UCL Bloomsbury. Its main services take place at 10am and 6pm on Sundays.
The St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church (Franciscan Friary, Stratford) is near Maryland station. It is a 20-minute walk from One Pool Street.
Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church is on Bloomsbury Street. It is a 15-20 minute walk from the Student Centre.
St John's Church is the nearest Anglican (Church of England) church to UCL East, a 15-minute walk away from campus.
- Jewish
The Central Synagogue is led by Rabbi Gavin Broder, the Jewish Chaplain to UCL. He runs the Student Lounge there. It is within walking distance of the UCL Bloomsbury campus.
The Central East London Synagogue is located in Whitechapel and is around a six-minute walk from Whitechapel Station. It can also be accessed by the Elizabeth Line.
The West London Synagogue is a five-minute walk from the Marble Arch tube station on the Central Line.
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue is near Regent's Park and is accessible by a healthy option of buses all within a 5-7 minute walk or by the Baker Street tube station that is around a twenty-minute walk away.
- Hindu
The ISKCON London Radha-Krishna Temple is the nearest Hindu temple to UCL Bloomsbury. It is located just off Soho Square and is about a 10-minute walk from campus. The nearest underground station is Tottenham Court Road on the Central and Northern lines.
The Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, often known as the 'Neasden Temple' is located in north-west London. The nearest tube is Neasden, on the Jubilee line.
The Radha Krishna Temple on Cedars Road is within walking distance of Maryland Station on the Elizabeth Line. The temple is on the 25 and 425 bus routes from Stratford High Street Station. There is currently no website for this temple.
There is also the Mandir run by the Hindu Pragati Sangha next to Mile End Station on the District and Central lines.
- Humanist
The British Humanist Association runs campaigns and events in London.
The nearest Sunday Assembly meets at 11am on the first and third Sundays of the month at Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square. The nearest tube is Holborn, on the Central and Piccadilly lines.
- Muslim
The Goodge Street Mosque is a 5 to 10-minute walk from UCL Bloomsbury. The nearest tube is Goodge Street on the Northern line.
The Students' Union UCL Islamic Society organises Jumuah Prayers in UCL on Fridays.
Stratford Islamic Association runs the Madrassa Mosque. It can be accessed using the 339 bus via a 10-minute bus ride from One Pool Street (the Aquatics Centre bus stop). It is also an 8-minute walk from Maryland Station. Prayer times can be found on their website.
- Sikh
The Central Gurdwara is the oldest established place of Sikh worship in Europe. It is located in West London. The nearest tube is Shepherds Bush on the Central line.
Ramgarhia Sikh Gurdwara in East London is the nearest Gurdwara to UCL East. It is on the 104 and 238 bus lines and can be caught from the Stratford Station.
Religion and Belief Equality Policy
UCL recognises that the spiritual and moral systems that religions and beliefs offer can often be of fundamental importance to the wellbeing of students. UCL also recognises that religious rituals, such as dress, diet and prayer, can be an integral part of religious life.
It is important that, where reasonably practicable, the needs of students from all religious backgrounds, and also of students with no religious affiliation, are met. It is also important to be clear when the needs of religious students may impinge upon the needs and freedoms of others, and therefore cannot be accommodated.