Features

Inside Sheffield Quaker Meeting House

Silence at a Quaker Meeting

Quaker Meetings for Worship take place almost totally in silence. You can listen to part of a typical Meeting by clicking on the links below.

One clip is in total silence; in the other, someone speaks for a couple of minutes.

Although most of the Meeting takes place in silence, they can be punctuated occasionally by people speaking if they feel moved to do so. They might say what's on their mind, it could be a reading, a recital, a response to someone else - whatever they wish to say.

You might find it strange that you're listening to silence (apart from when one of the Quakers speaks) - but just as other faiths have a sound associated with them, this is the sound which characterises a Quaker Meeting for Worship.

Quakers don't necessarily believe in God. Click on the link below to find out more about Quakerism and why their Meetings proceed in almost complete silence.

Inside Sheffield Islamic Centre

Azaan at Sheffield Islamic Centre

The azaan (sometimes called the athan or adhan) is the Islamic call to prayer, recited by the muezzin five times a day. A professional muezzin is chosen by the mosque elders for his good character, voice and skills. When calling to prayer, the muezzin faces Mecca.

Sheffield Islamic Centre (also known as the Wolseley Road Mosque or Madina Masjid) was the first purpose-built mosque in Sheffield. Millions of pounds were raised by the mosque users - the project is estimated to have cost £5 million.

Listen to the azaan in Sheffield.

Gospel choir

Gospel singing on John McPherson's Gospel Inspiration

John McPherson presents Gospel Inspiration, an hour of the best in gospel music, from 5am-6am every Sunday on Radio Sheffield. This is a sample of the wonderful sound of gospel music, played on John's programme. It's Bishop Eddie Long and the Total Praise Choir singing 'God is an Awesome God,' a popular praise song in the 1980s.

Sikh hymn at Sheffield Gurdwara

Sheffield's Sikh temple, or Gurdwara, is on Ellesmere Road North. Surinder Dhillon explains that although people can visit the temple to pray 24 hours a day, Sheffield's Sikh population is small so the main service is usually on Sundays. Take a 360 tour around the Gurdwara by clicking on the link on the right of the page.

Listen to a Sikh hymn at the Gurdwara on Ellesmere Road North.

Christ Church, Dore

Bell-ringing at Christ Church, Dore

In February 2008, bell ringers at Christ Church in Dore broke a 250-year-old world record when they rang 'Double Bob Major' for five hours and 53 minutes - a total of 10,640 changes.

Listen to the church bells in Dore.