Jamea Masjid is the largest and longest established mosque (masjid) in Preston, Lancashire, England. The mosque was established in 1964 at 24 Great Avenham Street and thereafter 18 Clarendon Street was acquired in 1967 serving the Muslim community of Preston until the current Jamea Masjid which was completed in 1984. It is recognized as the Central Masjid of Preston due to its capacity, location and the diversity of its worshippers.
Preston Muslim Society, which serves the needs of the Muslim community, was formed in 1962. Based on a mixed Middle-Eastern and European Gothic design and catering for the culturally diverse Muslim population of Preston, Jamea Mosque is definitely a meeting of east and west. Sited next to the old mosque which was formerly St James Vicarage (converted 1965) now running as a community center where one can partake in a variety of activities?
The Mosque building itself is used exclusively for the five times daily prayers, Quartic recitals, lectures, Friday and Eid prayers. The community center at present is used for pilot computer & homework classes, luncheon clubs, first aid classes plus a variety of courses in partnership with Cardinal Newman College, Sahara, The Racial Equality Council, community police and fire officers. The Mosque has strong links with local schools and churches that have helped the mosque in a variety of ways.
A Youth Club has also been running since the Urban Aid Grant supported scheme to renovate the center in the late 80's. Held twice weekly and run by Fayyaz Ali. The group has hosted international exchange visits with Preston's twin town of Nimes in France. Fayyaz has high ambitions to run more issue-based projects for the youth of French wood and Avenham relevant to today's modern society
The main prayer hall can accommodate approximately 900 worshippers and has two side-rooms which have a variety of uses but can be incorporated to extend the capacity of the main prayer hall, as and when required. A multi-use community center adjacent to the mosque, serves as a youth club with an array of classes and also a function hall.
James Educational Academy is currently in the process of replacing the original building used as the mosque in 1967. The new modern building would continue to cater for the educational needs of the community.
The 3 men came to Preston to gap the labour shortage which was affecting the old textiles mills. Since congregational prayers and community spirit is such a major part of Islam, the men galvanised their efforts, money and time to purchase a building to run as a Mosque. Thus, a terraced house on 24 Great Avenham St became the Mosque in Preston. As the community increased and several experiences of having to hold the larger congregations in conditions of snow in the Avenham Park or the car park on Avenham Lane, the need for larger premises became apparent, thus the move to Clarendon Street.
Funded entirely by the Muslim community and designed by Thomas Hargreaves a lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire (which was then Lancashire Polytechnic), the Mosque is a culmination of a lot of hard work and vision. Hargreaves came up with 47 designs such was his enthusiasm for the project. He saw the project through from its inception to the final brick; he even stood outside the Mosque helping to raise funds! Local firms were engaged in all the aspects of the building and the Council was helpful in the planning and purchasing, thus east and west combined to leave Preston a public building which it can be proud of.
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Preston, Lancashire England |
| Geographic coordinates | 53.755167°N 2.692041°WCoordinates: 53.755167°N 2.692041°W |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Status | Active |
| Website | Jamea Masjid Website |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Mosque |
| Architectural style | Islamic Architecture |
| Completed | 1984 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 900 |
| Minaret(s) | 4 |
