Matters of Faith

There are a large number of religious traditions represented in Cambridge.

Garde ta foy, keep the faith, may be our motto, but faith looks different for many of our Members. Students, staff and Fellows come from different faith and belief backgrounds.

The Dean od Chapel says, ‘As the Chaplain here I am a Christian priest in the Anglican tradition, but one of my hopes is to support all students from diverse backgrounds as they seek to practice their many faiths while they are students here. I would be delighted to hear from you if you would like to talk about your faith, and honoured to walk alongside you if you would like help to find your feet in your faith community in Cambridge.’

If you would like support connecting with your faith community in Cambridge, the Chaplain is happy to help and can guide you to relevant groups and resources.

You’re also welcome to reach out if you need support in practising your faith while living in College. If you’re interested in organising a faith-related event at Magdalene, such as an Iftar during Ramadan, a Rosh Hashanah gathering by the river, or an introduction to meditation, the Chaplain would love to hear from you.

The University makes every effort to consider religious observances when scheduling exams, but due to the complexity of the timetable, this isn't always possible. If you need adjustments for religious reasons, the College may be able to help.

Your Tutor, Director of Studies, or the Chaplain can support you in requesting special exam arrangements or discussing how your faith may affect your studies. For more details, see the Religious Observance page

The Magdalene Pray Room in First Court F4 is open to all. It provides a quiet space for personal prayer, meditation, and reflection for people of all faiths. Washing facilities are available nearby, along with some simple materials to aid prayer. If you have any suggestions for improvements, or would like to organise a group event for your faith, please contact the Dean of Chapel.

The interfaith reading group meets two or three times each term, using the Scriptural Reasoning method to explore different sacred texts around a shared theme. It’s a chance to build friendships, deepen understanding across different beliefs, and learn how to engage in meaningful discussions, even when perspectives differ. Everyone is welcome to join. You can find the dates in the Chapel Term Card.

Most major faith communities in Cambridge have chaplaincies for students, and many run active faith or belief societies within the University. You can find contact details and more information about these groups on the Faith in Cambridge.