provide quality affordable housing for their employees, contributed to the building of York Public Library and the created Rowntree Park. The four Rowntree Trusts, funded from the Rowntree legacies, are based in York. Methodists The York Methodist Circuit is part of the York and Hull District and comprises 36 churches and communities across the city of York and the surrounding area. Elmfield College (1864–1932) was an important Primitive Methodist college, in Heworth, near York. In 1932 the York and Whitby District was formed following the unification of the Primitive, Wesleyan and United Methodist churches. This was superseded by the York and Hull District in 1957 as part of a nationwide re-modelling of Methodist Districts. Unitarianism A Unitarian chapel is located on St Saviorgate near the town centre. Its origins are found in the building of a chapel on that site in 1689. Judaism York had an significant Jewish population during the Middle Ages, but the massacre of 1190 constituted such a calamity that a question remains as to whether Jewish authorities ever issued an official ban precluding Jews from residing in the city. No Jewish community of note existed until the late 19th century when a few European Jews settled in the town and formed a congregation that met regularly in Aldwalk. By 1968, the community had dwindled with only 45 Jews being recorded and the synagogue formally closed in 1975. In 2014, a Liberal community was established. Islam As of 2007, there was one mosque in York which also contained a UK Islamic Mission Islamic centre. This has since been replaced by a purpose built mosque which opened in 2018. Buddhism Various Buddhist traditions are represented in and around York. See also History of York Medieval churches of York Diocese of York Southlands Methodist Church References