Birmingham Central Mosque

The Birmingham Central Mosque was the UK's second purpose-built mosque when opened in 1975 and was the largest in Western Europe. The large main hall holds 2,500 (male) worshippers, with an adjacent Ladies Gallery accommodating 300. New contracts have recently been given to extend the ladies gallery as well as provide extra separate accommodation for visitors. Although many of the original founders of the mosque committee still make up the mosque management or are trustees of the mosque, the mosque is democratically run using Islamic teachings as the basis for equal representation of all members of the community. The mosque has been featured in two BBC documentaries and a research project is underway to study the lives of Muslim shopkeepers and residents of the buildings razed to make room for the current mosque.