Mosques of England

In our series, we are introducing beautiful mosques from different countries. This time, the mosques we will get to know are in England.

Jamea Masjid, Preston

Jamea Masjid, located in Preston, England, is one of the largest and oldest mosques in the region. Due to its capacity, location, and the diversity of worshippers, it is known as the central mosque of Preston. The Jamea Masjid, completed in 1984, has 4 minarets.

The mosque has a capacity of approximately 900 people and has two adjoining rooms that can be combined to expand the main capacity when necessary. A multipurpose community center adjacent to the mosque serves as a youth club with a variety of classes and an event hall. The mosque is known for its unique blend of Middle Eastern and European Gothic “castle-like” architectural design.

Brick Lane Mosque, London

Formerly known as the London Jamme Masjid, Brick Lane Jamme Masjid is a Muslim place of worship located at the eastern end of London. This mosque, named after the street on which it stands, was initially built in the mid-18th century and has hosted Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities over the years. It was converted into a mosque in 1976 and continues to exist today.

The mosque, with a capacity of 3,200 people, mainly consists of Muslim worshippers of Bangladeshi origin, and it has a separate section for women with a capacity of 140 people. The mosque’s minaret symbolizes its presence. Friday prayers are the busiest time at the mosque, where sermons are delivered in Bengali, English, and Arabic. Although this mosque was once known as the London Great Mosque, larger places of worship, such as the London Central Mosque in 1978, and later, the East London Mosques in 1985, were opened.

Bristol Jamia Mosque, Bristol

Bristol Jamia Mosque was established by the Bristol Muslim Association in 1889. It is situated in a building formerly known as St. Katherine’s Church, which had been built in 1964 and converted into a mosque in 1968. The dome and minaret were added to the mosque in 1980. Apart from being Bristol’s first mosque, it remains the largest mosque in the southwest of England.

In addition to its main capacity for 700 people, there is a separate area for women with a capacity of 140 people. The building also includes classrooms for children, an event hall for religious celebrations and other meetings. The mosque is open to all Islamic traditions and the non-Muslim Bristol community. It is a registered charitable organization and a member of the Bristol Mosques Council (CBM), founded in 2009, representing a multi-denominational mosque establishment in the city.

Süleymaniye Mosque, London

Süleymaniye Mosque, located on Kingsland Road in East London, serves both the broader Muslim community and specifically the Turkish-speaking community. Financed by the UK Turkish Islamic Cultural Center (UKTICC), the mosque’s construction began in 1994, and it was opened to the public in October 1999.

The mosque covers a total floor area of 8,000 square meters and has a capacity of 3,000 people, featuring one minaret. The mosque offers a conference hall, a wedding hall, classrooms, funeral services, and accommodations for students of the Marathon School. Süleymaniye Mosque has become one of London’s key Islamic centers and a local landmark.

Chesham Mosque

Chesham Mosque is located in Buckinghamshire. The first mosque in Chesham was established in 1970, and in 1979, it was moved to 161-163 Bellingdon Road, closer to the majority of Chesham’s Muslim households. This mosque had a maximum capacity of 200. In the late 1990s, with the Muslim population in Chesham increasing to 1,500, there was a search for a new site to build a larger mosque. Fundraising for the mosque began in December 1998 during the month of Ramadan. All expenses for the construction were covered through donations and door-to-door collections.

Actual construction started in February 2004, and the mosque was officially opened in August 2005. The final cost of the construction was £1.6 million. The old mosque building is used as a meeting and event facility.

The main prayer hall of the mosque has a capacity of 500 people, and there is an additional prayer space for women with a capacity of 200. The mosque has one minaret. Facilities for ablution and a Quran study room are also available at the mosque.