#Amazing Accrington - Winter 2017

£8 , 300 , 000 The luxurious new Raza Jamia Masjid plans to offer a centre for the Muslim community and a place to tackle integration issues

Accrington Mosque and Community Centre

square feet for the community centre which also includes a funeral preparation area and facilities including a plant room, office space, classrooms, meeting rooms and a kitchen. With on-site parking for 72 cars the newRaza JamiaMasjid will fulfil the needs of the wider community and aims to serve the wider local population in a state-of-the-art place where differences are embraced. The centre is open to all races, creeds, colours, genders or religions. According to planning documents the centre also aims to tackle the social issues that are prominent in society today. The founders are welcoming non-Muslimpeople tomake use of the facilities in the hope that this will lead to a beer understanding of cultural and religious needs of everyone. A site spanning 1.3 acres has taken nearly three years to transform. The impressive exterior is furthered with a modern and luxurious interior, £4.9million of the budget being spent on fixtures and fiings. The planning documents say the development will “endeavour to tackle some of the social exclusion and integration issues currently plaguing the society and will be a model for other cities.”

A place of worship and a hopeful model for other cities, the new Raza JamiaMasjid plans to offer a centre for theMuslim community and a place to tackle integration issues. In the heart of the town Raza JamiaMasjid & Link Community Centre is set to open any day now, a £8.3million development funded entirely by charitable donations. With planning starting back in 2014 this magnificent two-storey building can hold almost 900 people for prayers and worship. The eye-catching building is between GrimshawStreet and Lower Antley Street. It will replace the existingMasjid which has reached full capacity but the existing building will still be used for evening prayers and events. The initial planning anticipates the rising need for a larger community building and place of worship. The building boasts a purpose-built community centre, which is open to people of all backgrounds and faiths. This new development has takenmuch longer than anticipated, completion of the project is set to be almost a year later than first planned. With a huge 26,000 square feet for theMasjid and 14,000

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