St Mungo’s Museum Re-opening: a Vital Interfaith Space Saved
DR rose drew tells us about St mungo’s museum, why it’s important and how interfaith Glasgow campaigned for its reopening.
Guest post by Dr Rose Drew, CEO of Interfaith Glasgow
Photo credit: CSG CIC Glasgow Museums collections
On Wednesday 14 September, Interfaith Glasgow was delighted to see St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art finally reopen its doors to the public following the pandemic – one of the last Glasgow Life venues to do so. Named after Glasgow's patron saint, St Mungo’s houses artefacts and works of art showcasing diverse religious traditions and exploring the importance of religion in peoples’ lives across the world and across time.
Amidst fears that financial pressures could pose a permanent threat to the museum’s future, Interfaith Glasgow mounted a campaign to push for its reopening, creating a petition that attracted roughly 5000 signatures; hosting an online event bringing together experts from around the world to explore the museum’s local, national, and international significance; pressing Councillors, MPs, and MSPs to raise their voices; attending Glasgow Against Closures marches; and fostering media interest in the museum’s future. So it was a huge relief to see all this pay off!
Why did it matter so much that St Mungo’s reopen? In short, because religiously and culturally diverse cities need spaces where people from different religious traditions: can see themselves represented; can grow in mutual understanding of each other’s cherished beliefs and practices; and can meet with people from different traditions on an equal footing to discuss issues that concern us all. In providing such a space in Scotland’s most diverse city, St Mungo’s has been a trail blazer and - far from fading into obscurity in an age of growing secularism – its relevance only continues to increase as Glasgow’s diversity grows.
Photo credit: CSG CIC Glasgow Museums collections
St Mungo’s was established in 1993 with the support of Glasgow’s various faith communities to “promote mutual understanding and respect between people of different faiths and none”. Over the years this is what it’s done, working with people from diverse religious and non-religious backgrounds to promote good relations and challenge discrimination. The UK’s only public museum dedicated to religious life and art, and one of very few multifaith museums globally, St Mungo’s also has an outstanding international reputation, inspiring similar projects around the world, such as the Museum of World Religions in Taipei.
A vibrant, living museum, St Mungo’s has kept step with Glasgow’s changing demographics, a few years ago, for example, opening its ‘New Scots’ exhibit - the result of a year-long community engagement project, which tells the stories of Glasgow’s refugees and asylum seekers, exploring issues of cultural identity and the concept of ‘home’ through objects chosen by people from refugee backgrounds. Interfaith Glasgow was one of the organisations privileged to work with St Mungo’s on this project, as we have done on many others over the last decade – our most significant collaboration being our ‘Faith to Faith’ dialogue series: a collaboration consisting of monthly events for the public, exploring themes relating to faith, belief, and society: from uplifting subjects such as faith and music, poetry, and popular culture; to more difficult topics such as faith and mental health, LGBT+ people of faith, coping with death and dying, domestic abuse, and sectarianism.
This wee gem of a museum matters because if we – as people of all religions and none – are to fruitfully share our civic space with each other, then we need to understand each other; and fostering this understanding requires spaces such as St Mungo’s. That’s why we’re delighted to see it open again and extend our thanks to everyone who signed and shared our petition; joined us at marches; attended our Saving St Mungo's online event; or contacted their local Councilors. We couldn’t have done it without you and hope to see you at St Mungo’s soon!