Welcoming the Farsi-speaking Community to St Bride’s, Old Trafford

Revd Katrin Alldavoodi is Associate Minister at St Bride’s, Old Trafford, an area of Manchester with many different ethnicities. “Interculturality isn’t new to St Bride’s”, says Katrin. “We have a long history of welcoming communities, and alongside the English-speaking congregation, there is a large Farsi-speaking congregation too. We are working with Iranian people who come to church to worship and find belonging, friendship and stability in a society which feels unfamiliar.”

Over the past few years, St Bride’s Iranian community has grown to over 140 people, and the church has adapted to help everyone feel at home. “When the community started to grow, we tried bilingual worship”, says Katrin. “However, we found that the constant live translation made services very long. We then tried a different approach of having separate congregations – one English-speaking, one Farsi-speaking – which works much better. We have focused on intentionally building relationships across the church in a way that works for everyone.”

This intentional relationship‑building can be anything from cultural events to a shared cup of tea or coffee. Each Sunday, after the English service and before the Farsi service, members of both congregations will sit and enjoy a brew together. At Christmas, food is brought and shared, and during Nowruz (Persian New Year), the English-speaking congregation is invited to join the celebrations. It is these informal connections that have brought the church family closer together.

Through these experiences, the church itself has changed. The Iranian community hasn’t simply added a new group to St Bride’s – it has grown into a shared church family. “It’s important to remember that sharing a building is not the same as sharing a life”, Katrin explains. “Sometimes, people share buildings with those from other nations and languages, without really connecting. We are one in Christ, so we do hold some joint services, but rather than relying on translation, we create time together. People now pray together, share meals, and have formed genuine friendships.”

This ministry continues to grow because people feel seen, heard, and valued. Many of the Farsi-speaking congregation have lived through very difficult experiences and come to St Bride’s with deep spiritual questions. They want to understand faith and explore who Jesus is, and Katrin plays a pivotal role in hearing their stories and offering spiritual guidance. “I have witnessed powerful testimonies, and sometimes the whole church is moved to tears”, she says. “One lady said the Farsi service introduced her to Christ, and this has helped her to support her family from a place of hope rather than hopelessness. This is what it’s all about: people meeting Christ and finding hope.”

Often the support people need is very simple, whether it be practical help, a listening ear, or even help making a phone call. These small acts make a profound difference because when people realise they matter and are cared for, they begin to experience a true sense of belonging to the church community. That sense of belonging leads to deeper integration, and the Iranian congregation now plays an active role in church life. The Iranian worship band leads live worship for both congregations in Farsi and English, many members volunteer to serve coffee for the British congregation, and young people are also eager to contribute to services however they can.

Reflecting on what has been achieved, Katrin believes what is happening at St Bride’s is not an exception, but the future life of the Church. “In a city as large as Manchester, the Church is increasingly intercultural. Intercultural ministry isn’t about fitting people into existing patterns; it’s about helping them find their place in the Body of Christ. My hope is that St Bride’s remains a place where people of all backgrounds encounter Christ and learn to be with one another in the joy of faith. This is how we live out our Lord’s command to love our neighbours as ourselves.”