The first mosques in the North West

The Abdullah Quilliam Mosque is not only the first Islamic place of worship in the North West but also the UK. 

The Mosque on Brougham Terrace first became a mosque in 1889.
It was founded by a Victorian English convert to Islam: Abdullah Quilliam. 

For almost one hundred years this building was used as Liverpool Records of marriages and Births. 

The staff who worked there used to refer to it as ‘The Little Mosque’ totally unaware that it was the first mosque in England and its historical value.

Here, pupils from the Abu Hanifah Foundation visit the mosque in May (Picture: @AHFBlackburn)

Then, a group of concerned Muslims took over the building which was in a poor state in 1999.

They set-up the Abdullah Quilliam Society. Dr Mohammad Akbar Ali who died in 2014, lived long enough to see the mosque re-open in 2014 and it is now a major visitor attraction.

Brierfield & Nelson

The Jamia Mosque Sultania Mosque was the first official mosque in Brierfield(left). The one room ground floor and one room first floor was registered on 6 April 1976.

It remained the focal point for Muslims in the small town for several decades but like most mosques based in terraced streets demand simply outgrew supply and a new mosque opened in 2013.

In Nelson, the first mosque opening in the 1970s was said to have been located at what is now the Ghausia School based on Cross St. Again with the Muslim community growing in number a new mosque was built further along Every Street.

Blackburn
The Jaame Masjid (below) based off Audley Range in the town was originally established from a house in 1962, incorporating two terraced houses.  It became the first Masjid in Lancashire, recognised as the official central mosque of Blackburn. 

A mosque on Billinge Street, Blackburn is said to have been used to register for solemnising marriages on 14 February 1967. Muslim worship and activity on the site may possibly pre-date this. A former school on Bicknell Street was said to have been converted to a mosque in 1978.

Oldham
The first mosque was established in 1967 in a terraced house on Church Hill Street off Waterloo Street.

The mosque then moved on to 87 Greengate Street in 1971. Then in 1997 the mosque moved to the purpose built mosque as we see it today. The new mosque holds up to 2000 people and is still the largest one in Oldham.

Manchester
The Victoria Park Mosque was said to have begun as two houses, one owned by the Syrian Textile Merchants operating in Manchester since the early 1900s and the other owned by the mainly Asian Community.

In 1971, the Jamiat-ul-Muslimeen, Manchester, commenced work on a purpose built mosque in Victoria Park and the two houses were demolished and the Mosque took its current form.
A number of expansions are said to have taken place since then.
The North Manchester Jamia Mosque was established in 1975.

Rochdale

The Golden Mosque  was the first mosque in Rochdale and originally situated in the old building on Lower Sheriff Street. 
A major project was undertaken to build a purpose built mosque on the site adjacent to the current building. The new building was opened to the public in August 2010.

Bolton

The Zakariyya Mosque based on Peace Street is said to be the first mosque in Bolton and was established in 1967 by converting an old Methodist Church.
However, according to records in 1965 a madrassa was set-up at 43 Walter Street.
The Medina Mosque based on Church Street, Bolton was officially registered in 1979.

Accrington

The first mosque was established on Blackburn Road (above) in the town in what is believed to be 1968 with the chairman of the committee named as Haji Sardar. The Raza Jamia Mosque opened in 1990 on Grimshaw Street (below)

Then in December 2017 off Lower Antley Street the most expensive mosque in the North West was built. (Pictures: Purves Ali)

Burnley

The first Masjid in Burnley was the Abu Bakr Mosque established way back in 1968 and based on two terraced houses on Rectory Road. This building (near the new UCLan buildings) is no longer in existence. It was known back then as the Islamic Centre and then as Abu Bakr Mosque when it moved to an disused hall in the early eighties. At the time it was famous for hosting Qari Dawood who attracted many worshippers from across the county.

Preston

The Jamea Masjid on Clarenden Street was the first mosque in the City. In 1962 approximately 350 Muslims gathered with the permission of the local authority to offer Eid Namaz in Avenham Park.
In 1962/63 the Preston Muslim Society was formed with the Late Haji Suleman Moreea as General Secretary.
They hired a hall in Starkie Street, Preston where Jumuah Salaat would take place.
In 1964, £600 was collected and with this money 24 Great Avenham Street, Preston was purchased, renovated and started as a Masjid. This property was sold and 18 Clarendon Street was purchased and renovated in 1968. (Picture: www.jameamasjid.co.uk)