Halesowen’s Long Lane Methodist Church has been bought by local Muslims and will open as a fully functioning mosque and community centre in March.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, which runs the School Street mosque in Cradley Heath, bought the property for £460,000 and are spending tens of thousands more transforming the old church.
The premises has stood empty since the Methodists relocated to the nearby Crossway Centre in 2009.
President of the Long Lane Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Dr Masood Majoka is delighted with the new property.
He said: “For 102 years this wonderful building has been used for prayers and we are delighted to continue that tradition and we are looking forward to renovating it.
“We will have to make a few changes to the building to ensure that we face towards Mecca for prayers.” “Our association is made up of 95 per cent local people and we picked this site because it came up for sale and has a big car park, is private from three sides and has two big halls that can be used.”
The past occupants left this building because the maintenance costs were getting too high. I wonder whether the new occupants considered this aspect…
God will show miracles, if we reform ourselves. The answer to maintenance cost is “AlaisAllahe bikafin abduhu”
inshallah and i totally agree