Faith, Spirituality & SupportChaplain Biogs
Rev. Meg Masson, University Chaplain and Interfaith Minister
0141 548 2212
"I'm Meg, University Chaplain and Interfaith Minister. I don't belong to a religion; I now follow my own spiritual path, after decades as an atheist and then an agnostic. I've been a lecturer and personal tutor for over 30 years and I’m a First Aider in Mental Health. I'm now excited to be working with, and supporting, the Strathclyde community. Drop me an email if you'd like to chat and say hello if you see me on campus."
Rev. Carolanne Allardyce, Interfaith Chaplain
"Hello, my name is Carolanne, and I’m a practising psychotherapist and Interfaith Minister. I am delighted to be with you as an Honorary Chaplain for those who feel drawn to what I offer. I live in Fife with my husband, a Golden Lab, Chay and a mischievous cat, Fudge. I offer Ministerial services all over Scotland including healing, ceremonies, rites of passage and spiritual accompaniment. I believe in freedom to find our authentic selves and to express this in whichever way allows wholeness. I’m committed to serving from the heart, with no desire to change who we are but encouraging and nurturing growth as we travel a spiritual path together. There are no right or wrong ways and I embrace all ways of being. By loving ourselves, we love one another and, in doing so, our love is shared with all things. The natural world is fascinating and freeing and, by respecting our interconnectedness and interdependence with everything, we can embrace all that being one with this wonderful planet allows."
Rev. Kim Atherton-Dow, Earth-Based Faiths and LGBTQ+ Chaplain
“Hello, my name is Kim Atherton-Dow and I am very, very pleased to be able to serve all of you in some way through the University Chaplaincy. I am an Interfaith Minister with an especial interest in earth-based faith paths and am a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. I am also a follower of Universal Sufism and learn from the teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan and also the work of sufi Neil-Douglas Klotz and his writings and meditations on Jesus’s Aramaic ministry. I am joining the chaplaincy as your earth-based chaplain, but as an interfaith minister I hope that you feel you can speak with me no matter what your faith path (or none). And as a member of the LGBTQ+ community I am also happy to serve as an LGBTQ+ chaplain. I love Glasgow, where I lived for 12 years, which is another reason why I feel so happy to be a part of Strathclyde again as I studied as a postgrad there several years ago. Nowadays I live with my wife Jean and our family of rescue companions - 9 cats, 6 dogs, hens and a turkey on the Isle of Skye. I am very much an animal lover, (as you may have guessed!), am a member of the Animal Interfaith Alliance, and I try to volunteer for and support as many animal rescues and charities as I can.“
Jennifer Buchan, Humanist Chaplain
"As well as volunteering at the University of Strathclyde, I am a Registered Celebrant with Humanist Society Scotland, which involves composing and conducting funeral and marriage ceremonies. My work takes me all over Scotland and, to be honest, I will go anywhere interesting, and any place that I have never been before. I previously worked as an actor, a journalist and I am a qualified nurse. When I am not at work, I am an Explorer Scout Leader, and I love singing, and motorbikes."
Rev. Morawaka Dhammarakkhitha, Buddhist Chaplain
"I’m Rev. Morawaka Dhammarakkhitha and I’ve been a Theravada Buddhist monk for twelve years. I’m originally from Sri Lanka and am now staying in Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara, Glasgow as a minister of religion. This is the first ever Theravada Buddhist Vihara in Scotland. During my 12-years monkhood, I was educated at Buddhist monastic institutions and I have a BA Honours in Buddhist Studies and a PhD. I’ve been leading weekend Buddhist classes for children in Dhamma schools for over ten years and, as a Buddhist Chaplain, I’ve been very involved in activities such as delivering Buddhist teachings and leading meditation retreats based on mindfulness (Samatha and Vipassanā). I’ve worked in two Buddhist monastic institutions as a Buddhist Chaplain, and been a lecturer in the field of Buddhist Studies in Sri Lanka so I feel very much at home as a Buddhist Chaplain at Strathclyde. I conduct mindful meditation sessions and teach a course called 'Introduction to Buddhism'. I look forward very much to meeting you."
Natalie Moffat, Buddhist and LGBTQ+ Chaplain
"Hello all! My name is Natalie Moffat, my pronouns are she/her, and I'm very excited to be joining the Chaplaincy team as the Buddhist Chaplain and one of the LGBTQ+ Chaplains. I'm originally from the Shetland Islands but have lived in Glasgow for 9 years now and am proud to call it my adopted home. I'm currently a PhD student and Graduate Teaching Assistant in Sociology at the University of Glasgow. I tentatively ventured into Buddhist teachings and meditation when I visited the Kadampa Meditation Centre in 2019, hoping to find some respite from stress and anxiety. I did, but also found many more benefits than this and so felt compelled to study Buddhism in more depth. Through applying Buddha's teachings in my life, I've experienced greater peace, clarity, and purpose and I believe that there's something in there to help everyone, regardless of if they identify as Buddhist or not."
Aparna Ramesh, Hindu Chaplain
"Aparna Ramesh is an active member of the Hindu community in Scotland. She holds the position of Secretary at the Hindu Temple of Scotland, Rutherglen and works as the Development officer at Interfaith Scotland. Her work and volunteer work lead to interactions with people of different beliefs and none across Scotland. She enjoys hiking and cooking in her spare time."
Dr Sreevas Sahasranamam, Hindu Chaplain
"Sreevas is a volunteer Hindu priest at the Hindu Temple of Scotland in Rutherglen, Glasgow. He has been learning and chanting the Vedas (Hindu scriptures) since his childhood days. He is also a Professor at the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow."
Rev. Dr Rebekah Sims, Christian (Scottish Episcopal Church) Chaplain
"Rebekah serves as an Honorary Chaplain for the Scottish Episcopal Church and international students. She leads the Friday international students and families social group. She is also a lecturer at The Strathclyde Institute of Education with special expertise in the educational and social needs, as well as the cultural strengths, of international students. She is also an avid gardener who enjoys reading and has a special interest in interfaith dialogue. Rebekah also coordinates the fortnightly Wednesday Christian prayer service."
John Storrie, Humanist Chaplain
"My name is John Storrie, I’m a member of the Humanist Society Scotland and I’m delighted to have joined the fantastic chaplaincy team here at the University of Strathclyde. I work as a prison officer and have been with the Scottish Prison Service for the past 34 years serving in various establishments across Scotland. I enjoy camping and touring our beautiful country (apart from our midgies) on my motorbike and meeting new people from all around the world on my travels. I have always been part of the Scout Association and growing up in this environment as a young person and then leader has helped drive my passion for the great outdoors. I love socialising and I’m not shy, if there’s a guitar lying around screaming out to be played (badly) then I’m your man. To me, life is an adventure and I enter every day with a mission to try and make a difference. My mantra, is 'it’s nice to be nice.' I look forward to meeting you either in the Chaplaincy Centre or out and about around the Campus and like me, don’t be shy, come and say hello."
Tony Young, Interfaith and LGBTQ+ Chaplain
"Tony became interested in spirituality and meditation in his teens. Whilst studying Biology at Oxford, he explored the Upanishads and various other Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim mystic texts. He went on to live in a number of communities dedicated to the spiritual life and soon found music, meditation and mantra a very natural way to balance and align the mind and create healing. Tony is also a trained therapist and teacher and developed therapeutic relaxation technique to help people relax using sound. In the midst of teaching, youthwork, therapy and counselling, Tony has volunteered some time to be on hand to support at the Chaplaincy Centre. Tony is an active member of the LGBTQ community and believes diversity and spirituality need not be mutually exclusive."