Cartoon of three people outside a door.

Chaplains and Local Faith Contacts

The Chaplains can provide information and advice about all aspects of the religious traditions they represent. The Team is both ecumenical and multi-faith, serving various Christian traditions as well as the Muslim, Jewish and Buddhist and other communities.

General Enquiries

For general enquiries please email chaplaincy@kent.ac.uk  

Reverend Dr Stephen Laird


Anglican - Reverend Dr Stephen Laird

Email: S.C.E.Laird@kent.ac.uk

Office: Rutherford E4N1 (left, above the Dining Hall)

Mobile number: 07970 438840

Home number: 01227 763373 

Revd Dr Stephen Laird hosts our Sunday afternoon social Chatty Sundays along with other regular social events and organises popular day trips by coach throughout the year. Stephen is also responsible for Church of England worship in Eliot College Chapel during the week.


Lynne Martin

Anglican - Lynne Martin

Email: medwayinternationals@gmail.com or medwaycampuschaplain@gre.ac.uk

Office: Pilkington 004, is located opposite the main entrance to the Faith Space on the ground floor of the Pilkington Building.

Office number: 01634 883935  

Mobile number: 07778 567097  

See Lynne's blog and the Medway Campus Chaplaincy on Facebook.

Lynne runs a number of regular activities for students. She is a good listener, has a heart for people and the kettle is always on.


Dr Dinkar Sharma

Buddhist - Dr Dinkar Sharma (Local Faith Contact)

Email: D.Sharma@kent.ac.uk

Office number: 01227 82 3084  

Dinkar is on the teaching staff of the University and runs a meditation group on campus which is led by staff members. Students welcome. Dinkar maintains a list of other Buddhist groups active in Canterbury and on campus.  


Fr Mark Wharton

Catholic - Fr Mark Wharton

Email: m.wharton@kent.ac.uk

Fr Mark Wharton hosts Sunday Mass every week at 18.00, preceded by Confession from 17.00 and followed by refreshments. Tuesday Mass is at 18:00, followed by Cathsoc and pizza. These events take place in Eliot College Hall (Sundays) and Eliot College Chapel (Weekdays).

To reach the Catholic Society (Canterbury Campus) please visit their Facebook page or contact the Catholic Chaplain,


Rabbi Zalman Lewis

Jewish (visiting Chabad) - Rabbi Zalman Lewis (Local Faith Contact)

E-mail: zalman@chabadsussex.org

Rabbi Zalman Lewis is the visiting Chabad Chaplain  


Dr Sinan Rawi

Muslim - Dr Sinan Rawi

Email: drsrawi@gmail.com

Phone: 01227 713504  

Sinan has long standing academic connections with Kent University and our neighbouring institutions as well as being involved with the leadership and governance of Canterbury Mosque in Giles Lane, close to the University's Canterbury campus. 


Pastor Dr Aaron Berko

Pentecostal - Pastor Dr Aaron Berko

Email: A.Berko@kent.ac.uk

Office: Darwin Chaplaincy Office

Pastor Dr Aaron Berko is the Pentecostal Chaplain and senior minister of New Life Pentecostal Church which holds Celebration Meeting every Sunday at Woolf Lecture Theatre 1. He is the Higher Education Chaplain in Canterbury for the Assemblies of God for the University of Kent. Aaron helps run cell groups and other midweek courses for anyone wanting to know more about the Christian faith. New Life Group also has various social events and speakers during the year. Aaron is also a senior lecturer in chemistry at Kent university.

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