The chapel of St Anselm Hall on the Victoria Park campus of Manchester University is the
first chapel in any university to become a corporate member of the Prayer Book Society.

Established in 1907, the chapel has maintained its religious traditions for more than 100
years. They include use of the Prayer Book for a wide range of regular services – including
Holy Communion and Evening Prayer – as well as others celebrating Michaelmas, St
Anselm’s Feast Day, Remembrance-tide and reunions of what St Anselm’s chaplain, Fr
Hugh Bearn, describes as ‘our global alumni community.’

He said: ‘In addition to undergraduates from the UK, others from all over the world regularly
attend services in the chapel, or ‘Slems’ as it is affectionately known by students.

‘Clearly they feel very at home using the language of the Prayer Book at Evening Prayer and
Holy Communion. It appears that the language is not a barrier to them; indeed they connect
with it, wherever and whatever their origins.’

St Anslem’s close relationship with the PBS is underlined by the society’s decision to support
the recently refurbished chapel with two choral scholarships and a donation of 50 brand new
pew editions of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer for use during services.

PHOTO CAPTION
St Anselm’s chaplain, Fr Hugh Bearn (right) is pictured in the chapel with first-year students