Brick Lane Mosque
Encyclopedia
Brick Lane Jamme Masjid (Bengali
: ব্রিক লেন জামে মসজিদ "Brick Lane Great Mosque") formerly known as the London Jamme Masjid (লন্ডন জামে মসজিদ "London Great Mosque"), is located in the area of Spitalfields
alongside the street of Brick Lane
and Fournier Street
in east London
, England
. The majority of worshippers of the mosque are of Bangladesh
i descent; the mosque serves the largest concentration of Bangladeshi Muslims in the country. The building at 59 Brick Lane previously served the religions of a succession of other communities in the area. Built during the 18th century, it is one of the oldest buildings in East London which still stands today.
The mosque can hold up to 3000 people and is most crowded during the Jummah prayers on Friday. All sermons are delivered in Sylheti Bengali. In terms of beliefs and practices, the mosque follows the traditions of the controversial Sayyid Ahmad of Balakot. The mosque has close links with the Bangladesh Welfare Association, which addresses social and community needs. Arabic and mother tongue classes are available for children on the top floors.
("La Neuve Eglise") by London's French Huguenot community. These Huguenots were refugees who had left France
to escape persecution from the Catholics. The building survived as a Huguenot chapel for more than six decades. In 1809 it became a Wesleyan chapel, bought by the "London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews" (an organisation now known as the Church's Ministry Among Jewish People
), but this phase of its history lasted only 10 years. From 1819, the building became a Methodist Chapel.
In the late 19th century, the building at 59 Brick Lane was adopted by yet another community. It became the "Machzike Adass
" or "Spitalfields Great Synagogue". During this time, the area was home to many Jewish refugees from Russia
and Central Europe
. The population of Jews decreased over the years, with many moving to areas of North London. The synagogue, losing its worshippers, was eventually closed.
During the 1970s, the area of Spitalfields
and Brick Lane
was populated mainly by Bangladeshis who had come to Britain from the Sylhet region
looking for better work. Many found work in factories and the textile trade. That growing community required a place of worship, and the building at 59 Brick Lane was bought and refurbished. In 1976, it reopened as a mosque, known as the "London Jamme Masjid". Today, although it has been renamed, it still serves the Bangladeshi community as a mosque.
The former 'Great Synagogue' in Fournier Street
is a Grade II* listed building; the adjacent former school buildings (now used as an ancillary building to the mosque) is listed Grade II.
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
: ব্রিক লেন জামে মসজিদ "Brick Lane Great Mosque") formerly known as the London Jamme Masjid (লন্ডন জামে মসজিদ "London Great Mosque"), is located in the area of Spitalfields
Spitalfields
Spitalfields is a former parish in the borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London, near to Liverpool Street station and Brick Lane. The area straddles Commercial Street and is home to many markets, including the historic Old Spitalfields Market, founded in the 17th century, Sunday...
alongside the street of Brick Lane
Brick Lane
Brick Lane is a street in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London. It runs from Swanfield Street in the northern part of Bethnal Green, crosses Bethnal Green Road, passes through Spitalfields and is linked to Whitechapel High Street to the south by the short stretch of...
and Fournier Street
Fournier Street
Fournier Street, formerly Church Street, is a street of 18th century houses in Spitalfields, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It runs between Commercial Street and Brick Lane....
in east London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The majority of worshippers of the mosque are of Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
i descent; the mosque serves the largest concentration of Bangladeshi Muslims in the country. The building at 59 Brick Lane previously served the religions of a succession of other communities in the area. Built during the 18th century, it is one of the oldest buildings in East London which still stands today.
The mosque can hold up to 3000 people and is most crowded during the Jummah prayers on Friday. All sermons are delivered in Sylheti Bengali. In terms of beliefs and practices, the mosque follows the traditions of the controversial Sayyid Ahmad of Balakot. The mosque has close links with the Bangladesh Welfare Association, which addresses social and community needs. Arabic and mother tongue classes are available for children on the top floors.
History
The building was first established in 1743 as a Protestant chapelChapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
("La Neuve Eglise") by London's French Huguenot community. These Huguenots were refugees who had left France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to escape persecution from the Catholics. The building survived as a Huguenot chapel for more than six decades. In 1809 it became a Wesleyan chapel, bought by the "London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews" (an organisation now known as the Church's Ministry Among Jewish People
Church's Ministry Among Jewish People
Church's Ministry Among Jewish People is an Anglican missionary society founded in 1809.-History:...
), but this phase of its history lasted only 10 years. From 1819, the building became a Methodist Chapel.
In the late 19th century, the building at 59 Brick Lane was adopted by yet another community. It became the "Machzike Adass
Machzike Hadath
The Machzike Hadath community synagogue is a Lithuanian, Ashkenazi synagogue founded in 1891.The synagogue, also known as the Spitalfields Great Synagogue, was founded in 1891 in the East End of London, England. In 1893, it merged with the Machzike Shomrei Shabbat Synagogue of Booth Street...
" or "Spitalfields Great Synagogue". During this time, the area was home to many Jewish refugees from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
. The population of Jews decreased over the years, with many moving to areas of North London. The synagogue, losing its worshippers, was eventually closed.
During the 1970s, the area of Spitalfields
Spitalfields
Spitalfields is a former parish in the borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London, near to Liverpool Street station and Brick Lane. The area straddles Commercial Street and is home to many markets, including the historic Old Spitalfields Market, founded in the 17th century, Sunday...
and Brick Lane
Brick Lane
Brick Lane is a street in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London. It runs from Swanfield Street in the northern part of Bethnal Green, crosses Bethnal Green Road, passes through Spitalfields and is linked to Whitechapel High Street to the south by the short stretch of...
was populated mainly by Bangladeshis who had come to Britain from the Sylhet region
Sylhet Division
Sylhet Division , also known as Greater Sylhet or Sylhet region, is the northeastern division of Bangladesh, named after its main city, Sylhet...
looking for better work. Many found work in factories and the textile trade. That growing community required a place of worship, and the building at 59 Brick Lane was bought and refurbished. In 1976, it reopened as a mosque, known as the "London Jamme Masjid". Today, although it has been renamed, it still serves the Bangladeshi community as a mosque.
The former 'Great Synagogue' in Fournier Street
Fournier Street
Fournier Street, formerly Church Street, is a street of 18th century houses in Spitalfields, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It runs between Commercial Street and Brick Lane....
is a Grade II* listed building; the adjacent former school buildings (now used as an ancillary building to the mosque) is listed Grade II.
See also
- Brick LaneBrick LaneBrick Lane is a street in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London. It runs from Swanfield Street in the northern part of Bethnal Green, crosses Bethnal Green Road, passes through Spitalfields and is linked to Whitechapel High Street to the south by the short stretch of...
- Islam in the United KingdomIslam in the United KingdomIslam has been present in the United Kingdom since its formation in 1707, though it was not legally recognised until the Trinitarian Act in 1812. Today it is the second largest religion in the country with estimates suggesting that by 2010 the total Muslim population had reached 2.869 million.The...
- Islam in LondonIslam in LondonIslam is London's largest and most significant minority religion. There were 607,083 Muslims reported in the 2001 census in the Greater London area. Most Muslims are concentrated in the east London boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest...
- List of mosques
- East London MosqueEast London MosqueThe East London Mosque, situated in the inner London Borough of Tower Hamlets between Whitechapel and Aldgate, serves one of the UK's largest Muslim communities. It lies near the edge of the City of London, the capital's busy business area, and just a couple of miles from the fast-expanding London...
- British BangladeshiBritish BangladeshiA British Bangladeshi is a person of Bangladeshi origin who resides in the United Kingdom having emigrated to the UK and attained citizenship through naturalisation or whose parents did so; they are also known as British Bengalis...