The Merton Interfaith Walk came together because of a Merton Citizen’s meeting and the efforts of PC Suzanne D’Cruze, Faith Engagement Officer, to pull together an Interfaith walk across and beyond the borough. The purpose is to encourage community cohesion and improve understanding of different faith communities in Merton.
Richard Smart, a local Blue Badge guide and member of the Wimbledon Salvation Army, shaped the walk based on the work of Reverend Andrew Wakefield, the late vicar of St Andrew’s Church on Herbert Road. Andrew was well known for his interfaith work and enthusiasm for the Merton Homeless Project: Faith in Action. His walk celebrated the Summer Olympics of 2012, so this was an opportunity to refresh the route.
Fazl London Mosque
The walk starts from the statue of the stag at Wimbledon Train Station. From there, we will take a short tube journey to Southfields, and begin walking up to the Fazl London Mosque. The mosque is one of the oldest in the country, a Grade 2 listed building opened in 1926. The construction and the purchase of the land financed by the donations of Ahmadi Muslim women in Qadian, Punjab, British India, with support from the British Muslim convert Khalid Sheldrake. The mosque is a blend of classic Mughal architecture and British contemporary styles.
The Wimbledon Synagogue
From the mosque, the walk returns through Southfields to the Wimbledon Synagogue. It is a member of the Movement for Reform Judaism, on Queensmere Road. This community was established in 1949 at Worple Road and moved to its present site in 1997 after previously residing at Southlands College. It houses a nursery school, Keren’s Nursery. The synagogue community has been described in The Jewish Chronicle as particularly welcoming.
The Apostolic Nunciature to Great Britain
The next stop is a visit to the Apostolic Nunciature to Great Britain, the diplomatic office of the Holy See in Great Britain. Pope John Paul II created the Nunciature to Great Britain in 1982. Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI stayed at the house during visits to the United Kingdom.
The Buddhapadipa Temple
Walking down Parkside and turning off to Calonne Road the walk arrives at a Thai Buddhist temple under Royal patronage. Walkers will be greeted by the Abbott. In 1975, the Barrogill estate was purchased, and the monks moved there the following year. The murals inside the ordination hall were painted by thirty Thai artists over an eight-year period. They employed a contemporary style with visual impact, which was unorthodox for Buddhist imagery. It is now considered a pivotal moment in the development of the neo-traditional style of Thai art.
St Mary’s Church
Leaving the temple and walking up the hill we approach St Mary’s Church, the oldest faith community in Wimbledon dating from the 12th century. A very active and beautiful church, it is Grade II listed. A modern brass relief commemorates the abolitionist William Wilberforce, and the churchyard has a large mausoleum to Sir Joseph William Bazalgette, the renowned embankment engineer who designed the London sewer system around 1858.
Shree Ghanapathy Hindu Temple
The last stop on the walk is the Shree Ghanapathy Temple on Effra Road, established in the 1980s. The main deity in the temple is of Lord Ganesha. There are also deities of Goddess Durga (Parvati), Lord Hanuman and Krishna, amongst others. The Sai Mandir was opened in 1981, a prayer hall dedicated to Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. It was the first fully consecrated Hindu temple in Europe.
The walk is to raise funds for the Merton Homeless Project – Faith in Action, for which all donations are appreciated. Register to attend the walk here!
References: Wikipedia 2024