28th May 2026

East Meets West – a community of women growing, sharing and celebrating 20 years together

An inspirational women's group which grew out of Lancaster Priory and involves other Christian denominations and women of many other faiths has just celebrated its 20th anniversary.

‘East Meets West’, a wonderful regular gathering, held a special celebration to mark the occasion at the Priory.

Hilary Hopwood, co-chair of the group from 2012-2024, writes about how the group came about and the remarkable journey to today, when they have been able to mark 20 years of friendship and support. 

Hilary writes ...

In 2006 a member of the Priory congregation, retired teacher Liz Bagley, became aware of a change.

She noticed that the Asian Muslim women she used to exchange a smile with when she parked her car in Lancaster no longer returned her smile but looked at the ground instead.

Was this the result of growing islamophobia following terrorist atrocities? This concerned her so much she decided to reach out to them.

A couple of other ladies from the Priory joined her, and together they approached Dallas Road School, situated right next to the car park in question. The school was already running a group for the Asian Mums, to help prepare their children for school, so it was easy to make an introduction.

Once the women from ‘East’ and ‘West’ had met they decided to start up a weekly cookery project in the Priory Hall, where traditional recipes could be shared. The sound of their laughter could be heard down the street, and as the women began to bond ‘East Meets West’ was born. The first committee meeting was held in August 2006.

Over the first ten years more creative activities followed including three embroidery projects. Two of the embroideries are on permanent display at the Priory. There were also parties, celebrations, and outings (including one to Blackburn with a visit to the cathedral) at a time when it was unusual to see women, with and without headscarves, out and about and having fun together along with their children.

Friendships were formed, trust was built, and worlds were opened up for the women from both faith communities. We also visited a Buddhist community in Ulverston, and the Sikh and Hindu communities in Preston and did a ‘Healthy Living’ project together.

In 2016 women began arriving from many countries as asylum seekers and refugees, and so we started to meet every week and take it in turns to make lunch. The group has continued to grow and there are now over 100 in the group, with 30 of us meeting weekly in the well located and equipped Fellowship Room of Lancaster Baptist Church and members have become our firm friends.

We number up to 17 nationalities, and include women who are here to study or work, refugees, and retired women as well as babies and pre-schoolers. We are very active with a number of projects running simultaneously and involving local people and organisations.

The group is led by volunteers and a committee of 12 from both ‘East’ and ‘West’. Many gain confidence through belonging to the group and go on to study and get jobs. For example Somayeh, an Iranian refugee who went on to do an MA in Film Studies at Lancaster University, has just made a film to celebrate our 20th anniversary.

As we reflect on where we are on our journey, 20 years on, we realise that simple welcome and hospitality is the hallmark of the group. It is an offer that brings hope, and solidarity and transcends language, faith and cultural barriers.

Women have so much in common that it is easy to bond and then find ways to meet the needs of the local community where we live. We have few discussions about our different faiths but celebrate each other’s festivals with gusto.

Women of no faith who share our values and ethos also join us. We are doctors, nurses, students, retired professionals, refugees, asylum seekers, mothers, grandmothers, academics, carers, cleaners, with no reliable funding stream but powered by a passion to be together and welcome others to join us.