We turned 90!
Report on WCF 90th Anniversary celebration, Wednesday 15th July 2026
Brahma Kumaris Global Retreat Centre, Nuneham Courtenay, Oxon.
Introduction
During 2026 the World Congress of Faiths is celebrating the ninetieth anniversary of its foundation by the soldier, explorer and mystic Sir Francis Younghusband. To mark this significant milestone, two events are being held. Both have as their focus the implications for WCF, and for modern interfaith dialogue in general, of (in Younghusband’s phrase) “the Need for a Livelier World-Consciousness”. The second event will be an online conference on the topic “What is Dialogue Now For?”, on 12th November during Inter Faith Week. The first was a Celebratory Day Conference on 15th July at the Brahma Kumaris Global Retreat centre in Nuneham Courtenay, near Oxford. This short report describes that day; we hope it will be of interest to WCF members and others.
Venue and attendance
The Global Retreat Centre is an elegant Georgian mansion set in beautiful gardens and parkland. It is run by the Brahma Kumaris spiritual movement, who offered WCF the warmest welcome and hospitality throughout, including a delicious lunch. Special thanks go to WCF Executive Committee member Sr Natalie Steel and to Sr Rachel Priestman, but so many played their part: welcoming participants, cooking the food and providing technical support. The event was attended by 33 people, a mixture of WCF members, friends and curious outsiders. Two laden tables of books – WCF Journals, books by and about Younghusband, recent works by Marcus Braybrooke and Alan Race, and more – greeted guests on arrival. A photomontage of WCF activities from the last 20 years had been assembled by former Projects Officer Jenny Kartupelis.
Programme
Following arrivals and coffee from 10.30am, the participants went to the central Chapel space. Laurence Williamson played his guitar as people took their seats. Sr Maureen Goodman, Programme Director for Brahma Kumaris UK, welcomed everyone present, reflecting on previous events and warmly congratulating WCF on its anniversary. WCF Executive Committee Chair Dr Alan Race then began the proceedings by reading quotes from various books, including one by Younghusband. He noted that even at 90 years of age, individuals were capable of learning new things and having adventures; the same applied to WCF. At a time of increasing populism and nationalism, the search of “Livelier World-Consciousness” was ever more relevant, and WCF was well placed to lead that search.
The audience then listened to two sound recordings that had been obtained from the British Library. The first was Swami Vivekananda’s speech to the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions. Commenting on the speech, Alan Race noted Vivekananda’s central preoccupation with peace-making. This was followed a 1956 BBC World Service Radio biography of Younghusband, ‘The Twain Shall Meet’. Among Younghusband’s themes mentioned by speakers who had known him were ‘The Unity of the Cosmos’; the necessity for people of different religions to explore and journey together; the principle that no-one should claim that their beliefs are better than others; God as an inherent spirit burning within each person; the need to touch the hearts and consciences of millions; and the importance of working together to soften antagonism and organise cooperation. After the recording there was a lively conversation.
Ellie Dailey, who had designed the new WCF website, then talked the gathering through its features and explained how members could use it to renew their subscriptions. All then adjourned for lunch, followed by a group photo in front of the Centre. A selection of photos from the Celebratory Day Conference can be seen below at https://www.worldfaiths.org/90thcelebrations .
After lunch, the participants returned to the Chapel, again ‘played in’ by Laurence Williamson. Imam Monawar Hussain introduced the next item: a Multi-faith Service to give thanks for WCF’s 90 years of fellowship, with prayers and readings from many different faiths, and a recital by sitar player John Ruston. The service offered an opportunity for stillness, reflection and spiritual fellowship in the middle of an enjoyable but crowded day. The order of service is attached to this report as Annex A.
The service was followed by a 20-minute commemorative film especially created for the 90th anniversary by former BBC Head of Asian programming, Paresh Solanki. This drew on interviews that had been filmed in the preceding weeks, in which former WCF Chair the Revd Marcus Braybrooke and current Chair Dr Alan Race; Vice-President Rabbi Jacqueline Tabick; and Executive Committee members Charanjit AjitSingh and Maqsood Ahmed OBE reflected in their experiences of WCF and their hopes for its future. The film was warmly praised by the participants, and can be viewed below and here: https://youtu.be/YhonfppFv3s .
WCF member Dr Marianne Rankin and her daughter, photographer and WCF web designer Ellie Dailey, then gave a presentation about their forthcoming project ‘Contemporary Religious & Spiritual Experience: An Illustrated Guide’. The project will aim to ‘make the Unseen seen’ by exploring real stories of spiritual experience through photography, reflection and education. The presentation gave an introduction to spiritual experience and an overview of religious traditions worldwide, beginning in Singapore where Dr Rankin had lived for many years. It was suggested that religions might be seen as many paths up the mountain to the same ultimate reality. The presentation featured Ms Dailey’s photographs, reflecting different aspects of spiritual life around the world. More information can be found at https://www.crse.uk, and a selection of the photographs can be seen below and at https://canva.link/i7ivqm26bjhk7fk. The presentation was well received and a number of participants made suggestions or wanted to find out more.
After a break for tea, WCF Administrator and Projects Officer Warwick Hawkins MBE briefed the gathering about wider developments in the interfaith world, including Inter Faith Week 2026 (https://interfaithweek.org) which will be taking place between 8th and 15th November with the theme ‘Lighting the Way for a Shared Future’. He also described the work of the Working Party on the Future of Interfaith in England, of which he is Secretary, to research the ‘state of health’ of interfaith activity in England following the closure of the Inter Faith Network for the UK, and to make recommendations for a new umbrella body if appropriate. Those wishing to contribute their views on this can do so through the survey here: https://forms.gle/huhUW6KNPLW8o42m8 .
The day continued with a discussion of a draft statement entitled “The Need for a ‘Livelier World-Consciousness’ - A Statement by the World Congress of Faiths at 90 years old. This document, as subsequently amended, is designed as a way for WCF to re-commit itself to its core values, and is attached at Annex B. The online meeting during Inter Faith Week will discuss how it can be shared widely and given a high profile.
Dr Alan Race then offered some final reflections, and Sr Maureen Goodman concluded the day with a final mediation and blessing, after which many of those present chose to enjoy the evening sunshine by walking in the grounds.
Conclusion
Feedback on the day from those who were there has been unanimously positive. Among the comments have been:
“I was so pleased that I could join and celebrate the 90th anniversary of WCF. I found it a very special and inspiring day — one that I won’t forget.”
“It has been a fantastic day and so enjoyable for me. Most powerful prayers and presentations by all…Super location, breathtaking nature and most elegant venue.”
“A wonderful and uplifting day.”
Reflecting on the day, Alan Race has said: “Ninety years is a great achievement. We recalled history, joined with one another in the present and looked forward to what the future might hold - and agreed that interfaith work, in the cause of Younghusband's 'Livelier World-consciousness', was needed now more than ever.”
Warwick Hawkins
WCF
14.viii.26
