Former churches find new life as mosques

Hundreds of worshippers and special guests gathered for the openings of two new mosques at former churches in the Black Country.

Followers from the Ahmadiyya Islamic Community saw the movement's world leader, His Holiness Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, inaugurate the mosques in Willenhall Road, Wolverhampton and Long Lane, Halesowen.

The former Bethel Chapel site in Wolverhampton was unveiled on Saturday after being transformed following a £200,000 investment.

And a ceremony was then held at the mosque in Halesowen yesterday, which was a methodist church until 2009.

More than 500 people in total turned out to both events.

Group president Muhammed Yaseen Khan said the buildings would not only provide places to pray, but facilities for religious classes and language lessons teaching Punjabi and Urdi.

The official opening of the Wolverhampton mosque marks the end of an 11-year search for a new home for the organisation, which has 300 members.

The centre can cater for up to 30 people while the mosque itself can fit 200 people inside.

President of the Long Lane Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Dr Masood Majoka said the Halesowen mosque can accommodate 600 people.

He said: "We have been looking forward to this day for a long time. In recent weeks the activity has really picked up and a lot of hard work has gone into the project.

"I don't think anyone who saw the old building before would recognise it now, as we have fitted out new prayer and activity rooms.

"We are extremely pleased to finally be able to welcome the community to our mosque."