Multi-faith Chaplaincy

Dr. Sachi Patel has been involved in chaplaincy work for over 10 years, serving in various capacities across different institutions. He holds an MPhil in Classical Indian Religion from SOAS and a PhD in Theology from the University of Oxford, where his research focused on the intersection between politics and religion in 18th-century India. 

Dr. Patel has authored a book for the Routledge Hindu Studies Series on the relationship between Jaisingh II and the rise of public theology in the Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition, along with publishing numerous articles.

Born in London, Dr. Patel lived as a Hindu monk for 10 years in both the UK and India. He is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive, compassionate environment at SOAS, with a particular passion for interfaith relations. 

Dr. Patel welcomes the opportunity to engage with students and staff from all backgrounds, striving to create a space where everyone feels valued, regardless of their faith tradition or personal beliefs. 

I am serving as the Hindu Chaplain at SOAS. Having completed a masters at Bath University, and an undergraduate degree before that, I can’t get away from the student experience! Before embarking on a career in the city, I resided in India for a year to experience monastic life, where I practiced meditation and became a qualified yoga teacher. 

Looking to share further wisdom from the East, I’ve been conducting interactive workshops and courses since 2015 at a number of universities including LSE, Cambridge, Warwick, Bristol, and Imperial. Topics have included overcoming fear, Yoga psychology, and essential teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.  

My aim is to inspire learning in a way that goes beyond classroom-style teaching, and make understanding spirituality a fun and interesting endeavour. I also have a keen interest in world philosophies such as Stoicism and the concept of Asceticism.  

Please feel free to contact me for a catch up or if there’s any way that I can serve you. 

Student Rabbi Rafe Thurstance was born and raised in London and is currently in his final year of rabbinic studies while simultaneously pursuing a doctorate in Practical Theology. Alongside his academic pursuits, Rafe serves as a hospital chaplain in West London and is the spiritual lead for a small congregation in Denmark. He is involved in interfaith dialogue, community building, and religious education, and aims to blend traditional Jewish teachings with modern insights, which he hopes enables him to offer compassionate guidance and support to individuals and families. 

With a strong academic foundation, Rafe holds undergraduate degrees in languages, literature, and religious studies, as well as masters degrees in the anthropology and archaeology of religion. His broad academic interests complement many years of hands-on congregational experience, where he has worked closely with communities to foster engagement, learning, and spiritual growth.

Rafe’s dedication to pastoral care, combined with his rich background in both academic and practical theology, positions him as a compassionate and knowledgeable leader, committed to bridging tradition with contemporary challenges. His work as a hospital chaplain and his deep involvement in congregational life reflect his passion for community, inclusivity, and spiritual well-being for Jews of all backgrounds.

To find out more about Rafe's work and to read his blog posts, please visit Reflections of the Rabbi.

My name is Oscar Ardila. I finished my first degree, which was in acting, in Colombia (where I was born and where I lived until the age of 24). Then I moved to London, came to faith, found the vibrancy of the living Church, studied philosophy and theology, missioned in Scandinavia, became a Catholic priest, and continued missioning in Colombia, Devon and now London, both here at SOAS and as parish priest of the RC Church of St Charles Borromeo (a 15 minutes walk from SOAS).

Spirituality has enriched my life enormously. I am here to share the journey and help others along the way in any way I can and as much as I possibly can.

I am in the Chaplaincy in Room 363 every Wednesday between 2:00pm and 3:30pm for food, a chat, questions, discussions, prayers and more... (there have been singing and film afternoons also).

We also celebrate the mass every Friday at 2:15pm in the Multi-faith room in Room 206 of the Brunei Building. You are welcome to join us.

I am serving as the Muslim Chaplain at SOAS and as a chaplain at another university. With a background in Islamic Studies and having previously studied at SOAS, I have always been deeply connected to learning and the student experience.

Before stepping into chaplaincy, I served as a Khatib and have been actively working with communities in London. Alongside my chaplaincy work, I also teach at a Masjid, striving to make Islamic teachings accessible and relevant to everyday life.

In my role, I am dedicated to promoting and supporting Muslim students, as well as all other students, in their personal and spiritual journeys. I believe in fostering a supportive and engaging environment where faith can be explored with depth and sincerity.

Reverend Gail Thompson is our Disability Chaplain, and a long-time member and ordained Christian minister of the CiC international (Churches in Communities). She is also a member of the Centre for World Evangelism and Ambassadors College in Croydon.

Although now in her 60s, Gail's background includes 20 years as a professional conductor and saxophonist. She conducted her own big band, went on world tours, and made solo appearances at the Albert Hall, Barbican and many more prestigious venues. Gail has played the tenor and baritone sax with luminaries such as Art Blakey, Charlie Watts, and the Jazz Warriors. She also founded and established a music school in Brixton called Musicworks, focussed on women and serving 3000 students, and founded various jazz festivals through her promotion company. Gail did all of this before the age of 30.

Gail had a promising future in the profession until at the age of 29 she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. However, this did not dampen her ebullience. She started arranging and scoring music for big bands and writing scores for many television shows.

At the age of 43 she was called into ministry and studied at Ambassadors and Spurgeon's College. There she obtained her ministerial qualifications, Dip Min, Bachelors Hons and master's degree in theology and fine arts. She is studying for her PhD as of 2019.

The call to serve the community has always been reflected in anything she put her hand to. Gail established Millennium Community Services for that very reason. Having in the past served as a Governor of St Thomas's and Guy's Hospital, the Arts Council of Great Britain and various funding bodies other, and on Lambeth and other local councils for many years, she is currently an ambassador for World Vision's children charity. She does this while running many community projects in Lambeth, such as sheltered housing schemes, disability daycare centres, nursery school reading programs, and much more. 

Gail is truly an effervescent, tireless, and committed person that is well-equipped to deal with the day-to-day running and fundraising of this new community endeavour. Gail has recently launched the Southwyck Hall Skill Centre/Gallery, on the Southwyck Estate, Brixton, featuring many free accredited courses, including on Art, Health and Safety, Wellbeing, Social Care, ESOL, and more.

Rev. Rebecca Daniel is the Head of Chaplaincy and Development for the Council of Lutheran Churches in Great Britain and an ordained pastor of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain. She serves as chaplain among the international student and young professional community in London.

Originally from South India, she is passionate about mentoring young people in transformative leadership. A dedicated advocate for racial, gender, and climate justice, she actively integrates these commitments into her ministry and outreach.

Beyond her chaplaincy work, she enjoys leading Bible studies and writing creative liturgies that reflect her dedication to inclusion, justice, and spiritual growth.

Hogetsu ordained as a layperson in the Buddhist Rinzai Zen school in Japan in 2010 and became a Zen teacher in 2022 with Zenways. Since 2013, she has been the Mindfulness Chaplain at the Imperial College London Chaplaincy, running mindfulness courses, offering one-to-one mindfulness-based coaching, and annually training new mindfulness meditation teachers.

Born in Stockholm, she has also lived in Germany before moving to the UK in 2008, where she met her Zen teacher, Daizan Skinner, founder of Zenways.

Hogetsu also holds a master’s degree in arts and industrial design from the Hochschule für bildende Künste, Hamburg. She worked as an artist and photographer in Hamburg and Stockholm, exhibiting internationally. She continues to create small objects and undertake design work, combining mindfulness with creative practice to support health and wellbeing.

Hogetsu lives with her partner, who is also a Buddhist Chaplain.