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All smiles as the Archbishop visits York Mosque

by | News

The Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu shares a joke with Muslim leaders at York Mosque: Shazad Hussein (left), ImamAbid Salik and Prof El Gomati. Photographs: Nigel Holland

They are serious men of faith, but that didn’t stop them sharing a joke as they came together in York.

The Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu visited York Mosque and Islamic Centre on Bull Lane on Monday, and met with the Imam and members of the community.

Before the visit Dr Sentamu said he was very much looking forward to the visit, and finding out more about the mosque’s social action projects.

Dr Sentamu and Imam Abid Salik shake hands. Photograph: Nigel Holland

“We each have a responsibility to foster better community relations and improve our sense of what it means to be a good neighbour,” he said.

‘Improving understanding’

Imam Abid Salik said: “We recently held an Open Day and on behalf of the whole congregation of York Mosque we would like to express deep and sincere gratitude to each and every person who made it possible and to our neighbours and friends from York and beyond who came along to support the day – it was so humbling.

The Archbishop wanted to find out more about the social action projects. Photograph: Nigel Holland

“Islam, like other faiths, places great emphasis on improving understanding between peoples of different backgrounds and traditions.”

York Mosque holds regular open days throughout the year. To find out when the next Open Day will be or if you would like to pop in for an informal talk with tea and biscuits, please email [email protected].