Bedford Council of Faiths is an Interfaith organisation which has been in existence for many years. We used to be known under a different name but our aims have always been to dispel ignorance and prejudice, and to foster friendships between individuals of different faiths. The group is run by people from the local community dedicated to inter-faith understanding.  

Following an influx of new members in recent years we applied for and gained charitable status in July 2004.  

We celebrate diversity and the wealth of faiths in our town by engaging in activities which strengthen relations between various faith groups represented in Bedford and surrounding area.  

Our activities include an annual pilgrimage, where we walk together the streets of our town visiting places of worship and experiencing the variety of faiths in our community.

Every year we go on at least one outing. In 2003 we went to the Beth Shalom, Holocaust Centre near Nottingham. In 2004 we went to Amaravati Buddhist Monastery near Hemel Hempstead and ate with the monks. This was followed by a meditation workshop. In 2005 we are visiting the Crematorium and Cemetery in Norse Road to learn about its operation and follow this with a workshop on mourning rites in the various religious traditions.  

We have an annual autumn lecture series with topics of educational interest where we can learn about other faiths and ask a host of questions.

One of our regular activities is to play the Inter Faith game Diversity© a non-competitive board game which enables its players to learn basic information about the faiths now being practised in the UK. We are happy to play Diversity©, give faith talks and advise any organisation (statutory/non-statutory or school) that wishes to educate its members or staff in the sensitivities of multi faith issues.

In April 2005 we were asked by the Mayor's office to help organise and plan an inclusive Multi-Faith Civic Service which was held in Biddenham Upper School .

• Inter Faith Network for the United Kingdom. Its Executive Director, Brian Pearce, gave one of the two keynote addresses at our Celebration event in January 2005

• East of England Faiths Agency (EEFA)

• Bedford Partnership Board (BPB – LSP) of the Bedford Borough Council

• Bedfordshire Equality Advisory Forum (BEAF) of the Bedfordshire County Council

Some of our members are prison faith visitors, others are active in the Bedfordshire County Council's SACRE, the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education.

Regarding the development of the Elstow Storage Depot site which will become 'The Wixams', we have been asked to make an input to the design of a multifaith building by the Bedford Borough and Mid Bedfordshire District Councils.

We hope that our activities will result in a more cohesive society where people are less suspicious of each other's religious activities and are more understanding, sensitive and accepting towards others being different.

Through bringing people together, we try to help overcome natural reserve and shyness, break down barriers of ignorance, build tolerance, mutual respect, acceptance and understanding.

The 2001 National Census reveals that 31% of the Bedford population did not state Christianity as their faith. Bedford Council of Faiths believes that this needs to be taken into account by practising inclusiveness at civic celebrations and has already made its voice heard, in this regard.

We are a membership organisation and are dependent on individuals and organisations joining and supporting us. In return we can be of help in providing the individual with a journey of discovery of the diversity right here in our town.