Multi-faith Chaplaincy
The Chaplaincy service is for Edinburgh Napier students and colleagues from all faiths and from none, and provides a listening service designed to offer support and a sense of community.
What we do
We believe that spiritual wellbeing is important and the Honorary Chaplains and Belief Contacts that make up the team represent many of the main world religions and promote a multi-faith and belief approach. Chaplaincy aims to provide a focal point where we can celebrate and explore the wealth of nationalities, cultures and beliefs represented here at Edinburgh Napier and is a place where you’ll always find a friendly face and someone to listen.
Our team of Chaplains specialise in offering emotional, spiritual and practical support and guidance, regardless of whether you want to discuss an everyday issue or one of life’s bigger events. Chaplains provide an independent sounding board, an opportunity to ask questions related to faith or of a non-religious nature and can support you in times of crisis or when you need practical support.
We understand that in these unsettling times you may feel troubled and anxious – and our team of experienced Chaplains are here for you.
Chaplains can also be a link to other professional support services at the University and can help if you are having difficulty reaching out to them.
The team is made up of a diverse group of Honorary Chaplains representing the Edinburgh Muslim community, Church of Scotland and United Reform Church, the Edinburgh Roman Catholic Chaplaincy, University Jewish Chaplaincy, and has contacts with representatives from the Baha’i, Buddhist, Hindu, Humanist, Orthodox, and Sikh communities.
We also work in close partnership with Friends International – a Christian-based charity that works to build community amongst international students from all faith backgrounds.
Come along for a chat at our weekly drop-ins
Come along and meet some of our Chaplains at a drop-in session at the Student Centre, Merchiston (Room 5) on Thursdays 1pm to 5pm.
Meet our Honorary Chaplains
Amin Buxton
Amin Buxton is the Muslim Chaplain at Edinburgh Napier University.
Amin is an educator and translator and he is involved in several educational initiatives including Reviving Souls and New to Islam Edinburgh. He is an outreach officer at Edinburgh Central Mosque, teaches classes at Lauriston Mosque and delivers Friday sermons at Blackhall Mosque. He holds a COSCA certificate in Counselling and is working to apply Islamic paradigms of Psychology to improve mental health. He loves travelling - especially in the Middle East - and has a taste for fine scents.
Dermot Morin
Fr Dermot Morrin OP, Superior and Parish Priest at St Albert’s Edinburgh Catholic Chaplaincy, studied engineering in Dublin and then theology and philosophy in Rome and Oxford. Before coming to Edinburgh in 2009, he was a parish priest in London. He has a keen interest in the history of art and enjoys cooking, hiking and gardening.
Karen Campbell
Karen Campbell is the Church of Scotland Minister of Marchmont St Giles'. She was born in Edinburgh and completed her BD and MTh there in the 1990s. From 1996-2002, she was the senior Assistant at St Giles' Cathedral, before being called to Marchmont in 2002.
In 2012 she completed her Doctorate in Ministry at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, where she wrote on issues of Remembrance and Suffering and living with Trauma, which many soldiers and chaplains returning from conflict zones, and bereaved and abused people live with on a daily and lifelong basis. She has been Chaplain to the Personnel Recovery Centre for the Army in Edinburgh and is currently the National Chaplain for the Royal British Legion Scotland. During 2015 Karen was Moderator of Edinburgh Presbytery. She convenes the Committee on Safeguarding for the Church of Scotland, which also combines her interest in supporting and being an advocate for vulnerable people.
Warren MacLeod
From a young age, Warren knew he wanted to meet people from all over the world. So, after growing up in a small town in the USA, he left to work in schools in Nigeria, then China, and now with universities in Scotland. He is the team leader here for a charity called Friends International, which connects international students to local people and opportunities, offering friendship or faith.
Even though he has only been in Edinburgh since January 2021, Warren loves living here and especially enjoys taking his camera out to the Highlands with his friends. He loves meeting new people from all different backgrounds, so if you ever see him, come say hello!
Honorary Jewish Chaplains
The Jewish University Chaplaincy is served in Edinburgh by Rabbi Eliran and Ayalah Shabo. To contact Eliran and Ayalah, email Eliran@mychaplaincy.co.uk or Ayalah@mychaplaincy.co.uk.
Mark Solomon is Rabbi of Sukkat Shalom, the Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community, as well as the Leicester Progressive Synagogue. He lives in London, where he is senior lecturer in Rabbinic Literature at Leo Baeck College, the seminary for Progressive rabbis. He is also Interfaith Consultant for Liberal Judaism and Chair of the Liberal Beit Din (Rabbinic Court). Originally from Australia, he was the first orthodox rabbi to come out in Britain, and is active in the Jewish LGBT+ community. Since 2005 he has been visiting Edinburgh regularly – at least every month – as rabbi of Sukkat Shalom.
The congregation welcomes students and colleagues to its services and especially its potluck Shabbat dinners on Friday evenings, and you can find information on eljc.org.
Mark is always available to speak to students, and can be contacted on marklsolomon@outlook.com.
We welcome everyone
We provide a non-judgemental and welcoming service to all and do not discriminate against anyone based on age, gender, disability, ethnicity, gender reassignment, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic.
You can contact the Chaplaincy by emailing chaplaincy@napier.ac.uk. The opening hours of the Chaplaincy are 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Quiet Rooms
The University has a range of facilities and support available to everyone. Quiet Rooms are located at each campus and can be used for prayer or somewhere to chill. Information is provided below if you need to talk to someone in person.
Quiet Rooms FAQs
What are Quiet Rooms used for?
The University’s Quiet Rooms are ‘open access’ rooms that individuals are welcome to use for a variety of purposes:
- A place to go to ‘get away from it all’ where individuals can have some undisturbed time.
- Religious observance for prayer as individuals or in small groups or for quiet contemplation.
- Confidential space for staff Mental Health Champions to meet with a colleague (please note: only if there is not time to book a meeting space).
Who can use the Quiet Rooms?
As part of our commitment to inclusion at Edinburgh Napier University, the rooms are available for all of our staff and students to use for the reasons listed above.
You are requested not to leave any personal belongings in the rooms.
Where are the Quiet rooms located?
Craiglockhart Campus
The room is located in 4/32 and a shower room is available along the corridor at Room 4/01. These facilities are located on the 4th floor and are accessible by stairs or lift (the lift is located by the War Poet's Collection).
Merchiston Campus
The rooms are H12 and H13. A shower room with ablution facilities for all to use is located between floor G and floor H (currently marked H10).
Sighthill Campus
The room is located in 1.B.03 and ablution facilities are available along the same corridor in both the female (1.B.07) and male toilets (1.B.08).
Can I book a Quiet Room?
No, these rooms are available for anyone to use without the need to inform anyone. If you need a room for your group to meet, you should book meeting space via Resource Booker or go through the Conference & Lettings Team.
Each room door has a sliding “Vacant/In use” sign and when the room is “In use” this sign should be used and replaced to “Vacant” when available. This should help to ensure that you are not interrupted when using the space.
Can I display materials in a Quiet Room?
You may if you wish display information or leave reading material for others to look at. All material should comply with the spirit of wellbeing and inclusion and be respectful of the University’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. This means that you must at all times respect the right of others to use the Quiet Rooms and not display any material that runs counter to the University’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
We acknowledge the strong and genuine feelings and emotions that many students and colleagues have regarding conflicts occurring around the world. However, this is a place for prayer and reflection for people of all faiths and none and as such is a neutral space and must not be used to display any materials that promote or condone the actions of any group or government. Materials that contravene this statement will be removed.
Quiet Rooms as Safe Spaces
Our aim is to provide a safe and inclusive environment where individuals feel comfortable to pray, meditate, or to reflect quietly without fear of judgment.
Complaints, concerns or suggestions
The Quiet Rooms are regularly checked to make sure they are being used in line with these guidelines and as inclusive spaces. If however you have a concern or a complaint or wish to provide suggestions to improve their use please contact chaplaincy@napier.ac.uk
Urgent support
Students: If you need to speak to someone urgently contact Counselling & Mental Wellbeing by emailing counselling@napier.ac.uk during office hours. Please also visit My Napier for crisis and out of office support.
Staff: If you need to speak to someone urgently contact the People Team by emailing humanresources@napier.ac.uk during office hours and access MCL Medics outside work hours via the staff intranet.