Altrincham Interfaith Group

The Altrincham Interfaith Group was set up in May 2003. The basis of the Group was a Altrincham Christian-Muslim friendship group that was started by the coming together of Rev Brian Jackson from Hale Churches Together and Iftikhar Awan of the Altrincham Muslim Association (AMA) in November 2001. This was at an event organised by the AMA called ‘Everything you wanted to know about Islam but didn’t know who to ask’ in response to the events of September 11th.

The friendship group started with the idea, that more than just dialogue, the best way for people of faith to understand one another was to come together as ordinary people through events and get to know one another. The first event organised was a charity dinner held at St Ambrose College in Hale, at which the two communities came together, shared food and raised funds to support a local charity. Other events included a picnic at Tatton Park.

After two years, it was felt that the time was right to open up the group and establish an interfaith group. A meeting was held in May 2003 at the United Reformed Church on Cecil Road, in Hale. Present at the meeting were representatives from the AMA, Hale Churches Together, Timperly Churches Together, Altrincham Churches Together, Hale Synagogue, Bowdon Synagogue, Sharston Synagogue and the Hindu community as well as a Councillor Judith Lloyd from Trafford Council. It was agreed to set up the Altrincham Interfaith Group (AIG) , and the first officers selected were:

• Chairperson – Rev B. Jackson
• Vice Chairperson – L. Rapaport
• Treasurer – I. Awan
• Social Secretary – A. Rasul
• PR – L. Cohen and J. Lloyd

Over the years the AIG has continued to grow in strength and has achieved a reputation for innovative interfaith work.

Activities and events have included:

• Charity dinners
• Family picnics
• ‘Question time’
• ‘My faith in 15 minutes’
• An evening of entertainment
• An evening of poetry, story telling and performance
• An evening of parlour games

The AIG also has a float in the Altrincham Festival on the first Saturday in July, and twice won awards for their floats.