Our city proudly hosts people of many faiths, but have you ever wondered about our different customs and traditions and not known who to ask?

Ever wondered what’s in that local Church, Muslim Mosque, Hindu Temple, or that Sikh Gurdwara?

Well I have – so on the first Saturday in April, I joined a small group of people and set off from St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church (651 Leeds Road) and strolled down Leeds Road calling in at the Abu Bakar Masjid (Mosque), the Shree Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple, the Guru Gobind Singh Ji Sikh Gurdwara (Sikh Temple) and Bradford Cathedral.

In each place, we were greeted by someone who showed us round, and introduced us to the building and what was important to that faith community. Did you know that St Peter’s was built for the arrival of Irish workers and their families?

The Mosque welcomes upwards of 2,000 at Friday prayers, with women enjoying their separate accommodation in what had been the old smaller mosque. The present Hindu temple was opened in 2007 by the Queen and draws people from all over the north of England.

The Guru Gobind Singh Ji Sikh Gurdwara is the first purpose-built gurdwara in the UK. At the time, preparations were well in hand to celebrate Vaisakhi, the festival which celebrates the founding of the Sikh community known as the Khalsa, 400 years ago. At the Gurdwara we enjoyed Langar, the vegetarian Sikh meal freely offered as traditional Sikh hospitality.

Then on to the cathedral, an oasis of peace in a busy city, yet alive with music and the arts. While each building is a gathering place for worship and prayer, it is also a centre for faith education and community service. A respect for the Earth, compassionate and just care for its people, and a genuine desire to respond to the needs of our diverse city – how much we have in common from our different faith traditions!

This was the beginning of a new season of the monthly ‘Faith Trail in Inner Bradford’. Come and join us – meet your neighbours. Booking is not essential, but if a group is coming, call Bradford Cathedral on (01274) 777720. Meet at St Peter’s on the first Saturday of each month at 10.30am. For details, visit the Treasures Revealed website here.