Plans to turn Catholic chapel into Muslim prayer room scrapped

Plans to turn a Catholic chapel in a Manchester hospital into a Muslim prayer room have been cancelled after an online petition.

Over 6,000 people, including some Muslims, signed the petition started by Fr Ged Murphy of St Patrick’s and St Malachy’s parish in Collyhurst, to stop the proposal by the Spiritual Care Chaplaincy team at North Manchester General Hospital to close the chapel of Saint Raphael.

The hospital already has two prayer rooms for Muslims, but the one for men does not have washing facilities. But after a meeting yesterday the plan was abolished.

Instead different spaces for worship will be provided for Muslims, Jews and Protestants, and a “quiet room” for non-believers to reflect.

The chapel contains the Blessed Sacrament and Mass is celebrated weekly, with patients, staff and visitors, and has been serving Catholics for 15 years.

The Catholic chaplaincy at the hospital had opposed the proposal to shut the Catholic chapel.

Fr Murphy told the Manchester Evening News: “I am delighted that it is not being closed. What was pleasing was that members of the Muslim community signed our petition.

“A member of the Catholic chaplaincy had been instrumental in getting Muslim prayer rooms established at the hospital.

“I hope that a space can be found at the hospital which is more suitable to the needs of the Muslim community.”