Contested Space in a Global City:Contested Space in a Global City:

The Changing Religious Landscape The Changing Religious Landscape

of Multicultural Londonof Multicultural London

John EadeJohn Eade

CRONEMCRONEM(Centre for Research on Nationalism, Ethnicity (Centre for Research on Nationalism, Ethnicity

and Multiculturalism)and Multiculturalism)Surrey and Roehampton Universities, UKSurrey and Roehampton Universities, UK

Urban ModernityUrban Modernity

The Western city as centre of The Western city as centre of secular modernitysecular modernity

Changing cities: globalisation, Changing cities: globalisation, multiculturalism, multiculturalism, cosmopolitanism and the post-cosmopolitanism and the post-secular citysecular city

From Private to Public Space:From Private to Public Space:Religion and Global MigrationReligion and Global Migration

Large scale migration after Second Large scale migration after Second World War: 2006 7,355,400 people World War: 2006 7,355,400 people speaking over 300 languages. speaking over 300 languages.

30.6% from non-white group and 30.6% from non-white group and 42% belong to groups other than 42% belong to groups other than white Britishwhite British(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Ethnic_groups_in_London)

From Private to Public Space:From Private to Public Space:Religion and Global MigrationReligion and Global Migration

1960s and 1970s use of private 1960s and 1970s use of private accommodation by non-Christiansaccommodation by non-Christians

1980s onwards – taking over mainstream 1980s onwards – taking over mainstream public secular and religious buildingspublic secular and religious buildings

1980s onwards – constructing purpose-1980s onwards – constructing purpose-built prominent buildingsbuilt prominent buildings

Wider perspective – global and local Wider perspective – global and local processes of religious affirmationprocesses of religious affirmation

Negotiating with the StateNegotiating with the StateSacralisation process shaped not Sacralisation process shaped not

just by religious leaders and just by religious leaders and organisations but also minority organisations but also minority political leaders, entrepreneurs political leaders, entrepreneurs and community organisationsand community organisations

State control through planning State control through planning regulations and political and regulations and political and ideological disputesideological disputes

Negotiating with the StateNegotiating with the State

Minority religious groups have to learn Minority religious groups have to learn rules of the secular planning game but rules of the secular planning game but Muslim groups in particular face a Muslim groups in particular face a variety of obstacles variety of obstacles

Similarities with other W. European Similarities with other W. European countries as retreat from countries as retreat from multiculturalism develops after 2001 multiculturalism develops after 2001 (9/11, 7/7 etc)(9/11, 7/7 etc)

The Links between Global and Local: The Links between Global and Local: Three Different Mosques in London’s Three Different Mosques in London’s

East EndEast End Transnational migration and minority ethnic Transnational migration and minority ethnic

groups in London’s dark, exotic east – groups in London’s dark, exotic east – Bangladeshi and Somali Muslims in Tower Bangladeshi and Somali Muslims in Tower Hamlets Hamlets

Moving east – like Jewish and Irish settlers Moving east – like Jewish and Irish settlers Bangladeshis are moving into Newham, Bangladeshis are moving into Newham, Waltham Forest and RedbridgeWaltham Forest and Redbridge

Newham in particular goes global – the Newham in particular goes global – the development of the Lea Valley industrial area development of the Lea Valley industrial area for the Olympicsfor the Olympics

Brick Lane Mosque, E. London:Brick Lane Mosque, E. London:Multicultural Succession Multicultural Succession

and a Community Mosque?and a Community Mosque?

East London Mosque: East London Mosque: A Reformist, Global and Central Mosque?A Reformist, Global and Central Mosque?

Abby Mills Mosque, Newham: A Prime Site Abby Mills Mosque, Newham: A Prime Site Next to the Olympics VillageNext to the Olympics Village

Abbey Mills Mosque: Abbey Mills Mosque: Tabligh Jamaat and the Global CityTabligh Jamaat and the Global City

Proposed Abbey Mills Redevelopment:Proposed Abbey Mills Redevelopment: The ‘Mega Mosque’ The ‘Mega Mosque’

Opposition to the Proposal Despite support from the Labour Council

leader, Tabligh Jamaat failed to play the secular planning game

Opposed by various local groups including Christian People’s Alliance, other Muslims

Bogey of terrorism exploited through local and global means

January 2009: proposal looked to have failed

Not Just Islam – Not Just Islam – Other Minority Religious ProjectsOther Minority Religious Projects

Controversy did not just surround Controversy did not just surround plans involving mosques and plans involving mosques and madrassahsmadrassahs

Local resistance to large scale Local resistance to large scale projects proposed by other minorities - projects proposed by other minorities - Hindus and Christian – also sometimes Hindus and Christian – also sometimes emergedemerged

Pentecostalist ChurchPentecostalist Church

Rapid growth of Pentecostal groups Rapid growth of Pentecostal groups globally globally

In UK supported predominantly by those In UK supported predominantly by those with origins in Africa and the Caribbeanwith origins in Africa and the Caribbean

Kingsway International Christian Centre Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) has strong London following (KICC) has strong London following

KICC and OlympicsKICC and Olympics

Affected by the Olympic site Affected by the Olympic site development since it was required to development since it was required to move from its Hackney premises in move from its Hackney premises in September 2008 September 2008

Plan to move to an industrial site Plan to move to an industrial site further east in Havering boroughfurther east in Havering borough

‘8,000-seats at a cost of £70m’

‘‘Mega-Church’Mega-Church’

The Sunday Times, OThe Sunday Times, October 29, 2006 ctober 29, 2006 ‘London to get £35m mega-church’:‘London to get £35m mega-church’:

Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo has Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo has commissioned architects to design commissioned architects to design Britain’s first US-style “mega-church” Britain’s first US-style “mega-church” with an amphitheatre and television with an amphitheatre and television studio. studio.

‘‘Mega-Church’Mega-Church’

‘‘The 8,000-seat capacity of the £35m The 8,000-seat capacity of the £35m building, on a disused industrial site in building, on a disused industrial site in Rainham, east London, will dwarf Rainham, east London, will dwarf Liverpool Cathedral, the country’s Liverpool Cathedral, the country’s largest Anglican church, which can largest Anglican church, which can seat 3,000’. seat 3,000’.

‘‘It is modelled on arena-style It is modelled on arena-style evangelical churches spreading across evangelical churches spreading across the American Bible Belt, which have a the American Bible Belt, which have a capacity for up to 18,000 worshippers’. capacity for up to 18,000 worshippers’.

‘‘Mega-Church’Mega-Church’

‘‘The building is partly funded by an The building is partly funded by an estimated £13.5m windfall from estimated £13.5m windfall from taxpayers to compensate the church taxpayers to compensate the church for having to make way from its for having to make way from its present site, an East London factory, present site, an East London factory, for the 2012 Olympics. The London for the 2012 Olympics. The London Development Agency says it bought Development Agency says it bought the site at the market price’the site at the market price’

‘‘Mega-Church’Mega-Church’

‘‘Ashimolowo’s Kingsway Ashimolowo’s Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) International Christian Centre (KICC) teaches a controversial “health and teaches a controversial “health and wealth” version of Christianity. It tells wealth” version of Christianity. It tells its followers, largely of African origin its followers, largely of African origin and living in deprived areas, that and living in deprived areas, that God wants people to be rich and God wants people to be rich and healthy.’ healthy.’

Secular Rational Opposition: Secular Rational Opposition: Internet DebatesInternet Debates

““Councillors unanimously objected Councillors unanimously objected to the [proposal] …. due to the to the [proposal] …. due to the inadequacy of local transport inadequacy of local transport facilities’ facilities’

‘‘development would conflict with development would conflict with the strategic employment policy the strategic employment policy for the area’ for the area’

‘‘the site would be a poor location the site would be a poor location for a use of the scale and nature for a use of the scale and nature proposed’proposed’

Local Residents: Cultural FactorsLocal Residents: Cultural Factors

‘‘It’s a bizarre turn of events. Britain It’s a bizarre turn of events. Britain is a Christian Country and yet we is a Christian Country and yet we allow Mosques to go up in the name allow Mosques to go up in the name of multi-culturalism, yet a church is of multi-culturalism, yet a church is denied permission. … Had it been a denied permission. … Had it been a business park, a factory, a cinema or business park, a factory, a cinema or even a nightclub I imagine the even a nightclub I imagine the outcome would have been somewhat outcome would have been somewhat different.’different.’

Local Residents: Local Residents: Economic FactorsEconomic Factors

‘‘Contrary to some people’s beliefs, Contrary to some people’s beliefs, had this been an application for a had this been an application for a cinema or a nightclub, it would also cinema or a nightclub, it would also have been turned down! This land have been turned down! This land was bought with public money to was bought with public money to create jobs. The KICC offered 75 jobs create jobs. The KICC offered 75 jobs (all of which were already filled by (all of which were already filled by people living in Hackney) so offered people living in Hackney) so offered residents precisely nothing’.residents precisely nothing’.

Local Residents: Size ‘‘Rainham residents adore our area, Rainham residents adore our area,

welcome regeneration, and believe welcome regeneration, and believe we could be sitting in the future we could be sitting in the future docklands! But no part of that docklands! But no part of that involves a giant church of American involves a giant church of American proportions as we are not america! proportions as we are not america! We are happy for the KICC to have We are happy for the KICC to have small churches the way every other small churches the way every other religion has. The giant church the religion has. The giant church the KICC propose is a Want not a NEED’KICC propose is a Want not a NEED’

Conclusion Conclusion

Despite intensity of opposition, fears and Despite intensity of opposition, fears and hostilities have usually died away and the hostilities have usually died away and the new buildings have become accepted as new buildings have become accepted as part of the locality – Nimbyismpart of the locality – Nimbyism

My previous work on the Shia Muslim My previous work on the Shia Muslim Northolt and Sunni Muslim East London Northolt and Sunni Muslim East London Mosque developments during the 1980sMosque developments during the 1980s

Official Support for Large Scale Mosque Projects

Despite ‘9/11’, ‘7/7’ etc local politicians Despite ‘9/11’, ‘7/7’ etc local politicians and planners have gradually come to and planners have gradually come to welcome new religious sites as welcome new religious sites as reflection of changing economic and reflection of changing economic and cultural environment of their localitiescultural environment of their localities

Reflects multicultural change, Reflects multicultural change, local/global links, move from industrial local/global links, move from industrial to post-industrial societyto post-industrial society

Sacralising Space Sacralising Space in a Global Cityin a Global City

What is different now is globalised What is different now is globalised nature of local strugglesnature of local struggles

Global multicultural complexity of Global multicultural complexity of London limits comparison with other London limits comparison with other British cities, which Olympics has made British cities, which Olympics has made even clearereven clearer

Religious/secular divide refracted Religious/secular divide refracted through disputes over grand religious through disputes over grand religious projectsprojects

Sacralising Space in a Global City – Sacralising Space in a Global City – Secular ProcessesSecular Processes

Disputes outlined here reveal the Disputes outlined here reveal the usual secular issues bound up with usual secular issues bound up with state institutionsstate institutions

Need by the developers to learn the Need by the developers to learn the rules of the planning game rules of the planning game

Concerns shared by politicians, Concerns shared by politicians, planners and residents with regard to planners and residents with regard to traffic, noise, parking and jobstraffic, noise, parking and jobs

Sacralising Space in the Global City – Sacralising Space in the Global City – Cultural HeritageCultural Heritage

More interestingly, symbols frequently More interestingly, symbols frequently established link between local religious established link between local religious space and the Established Church. space and the Established Church.

Anglican Church still retains a dominant Anglican Church still retains a dominant position symbolically in the public position symbolically in the public imaginationimagination

New religious groups are understood in New religious groups are understood in relation to that Churchrelation to that Church

Sacred and Secular in British CitiesSacred and Secular in British Cities

Increasing importance of religious place-Increasing importance of religious place-making in ethnic and racial dynamics of making in ethnic and racial dynamics of contemporary British citiescontemporary British cities

In wider historical perspective debate about In wider historical perspective debate about the ‘post-secular city’ may actually reflect a the ‘post-secular city’ may actually reflect a growing awareness of continuities with 19growing awareness of continuities with 19thth and early 20and early 20thth century urban society century urban society

as hegemony of post-Second World War as hegemony of post-Second World War secular welfare state declinessecular welfare state declines

Translation and HistoryTranslation and History Translation needed for incorporating minorities Translation needed for incorporating minorities

into the public sphere ‘are not the sole into the public sphere ‘are not the sole responsibility of the religious, but must be responsibility of the religious, but must be cooperative’ (Calhoun)cooperative’ (Calhoun)

Yet, ‘histories of mutual engagement that produce Yet, ‘histories of mutual engagement that produce both common understandings and citizens able to both common understandings and citizens able to understand each other are not simply matters of understand each other are not simply matters of translation or advances of reason’translation or advances of reason’

‘‘They are also particular They are also particular histories that forge particular histories that forge particular cultural connections and commonalities’.cultural connections and commonalities’.

http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/2008/09/15/translation-and-transformation/