London Central Mosque
– Modesty and Mosaics
The London Central Mosque was built in 1977 and is located near Westminster. The ground upon which it was built was donated to the Muslim community of London more than 30 years earlier, but long deliberations and disagreements over the projected design and planning kept any real progress towards construction from being made.
Finally in 1969 an open design competition was held and the winner was English architect Frederick Gibberd. His modern design was chosen from more than 100 entries and although the buildings themselves are unremarkable, the design contains some lovely elements such as the 140 foot tall minaret and the large golden dome. The mosque cost over £6.5 million to build and was not actually completed until 1994. It is really a complex of several different components; there are administrative offices and events halls along with conference rooms and residential areas. There are two main prayer halls, one for men and one for women. The prayer areas are oriented to face Mecca and contain no furnishings except for red carpeting and one very large crystal chandelier. The large dome is lined with beautiful mosaics. The mosque regularly accommodates more than 5,000 worshippers and on holidays and festivals, the congregation can swell to ten times that amount. There is a bookstore and a halal café on the premises as well. Visitors are welcome at any time that the mosque is open, and guided tours can be arranged if you so desire. One thing to remember is that modest dress is a keystone of Islam, so be sure to dress to cover your shoulders and knees (both men and women). Women must also cover their hair, and if you did not bring your own, headscarves can be borrowed at the bookstore. Photography is also forbidden on the grounds of the mosque without special permission, so please leave your cameras at home. The Central Mosque is a very special place that welcomes visitors looking to learn a bit more about this popular world religion.
London Central Mosque Address: 146 Park Road, Marylebone, London NW8 7RG Telephone: 020 7724 3363 Opening Times Daily 9:00-22:00. Prices Free
Photo courtesy: Loz Flowers
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