Bristol Jamia Mosque

51°26′32″N 2°34′55″W / 51.44213°N 2.58195°W / 51.44213; -2.58195ArchitectureCompleted1968SpecificationsCapacity840Length67 mWidth64 mDome(s)1Dome height (outer)48.5 mDome dia. (outer)25.5 mMinaret(s)1Minaret height88 m

The Bristol Jamia Mosque is a mosque in the Totterdown area of Bristol. It was the first mosque in Bristol and is currently the largest in the south west of England. The building was formerly a disused church that was bought and converted into a mosque in 1968. It has since been embellished with a dome and minaret.^[1]

Description

The mosque has one dome and one minaret. Both men and women are allowed to pray at the mosque; it has a main hall (capacity 700) and a separate women's prayer hall (capacity 140).^[2] The building also houses classrooms for children and an event hall for religious celebrations and other meetings. The main hall has a wooden Syrian mimbar.^[3] The mosque is open to all traditions of Islam and to the non-Muslim community of Bristol. Bristol Jamia Mosque is a registered charity and a member of Council of Bristol Mosques (CBM), a multi-denominational organisation of mosques in the city established in 2009.^[4]

History

Bristol Jamia Mosque was originally an Anglican mission room, known as St. Katherine’s church, which was constructed in 1889 and closed in 1964.^[5] In 1968, the Bristol Muslim Association purchased the disused church from the parish council for conversion.^[3][5] The dome and minaret were added to the structure in 1980.^[3] It was the first mosque in Bristol and is currently the largest mosque in south-west England.^[3]

References