Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
A short visit to Harringay's 'Guyanese Mosque'
I almost missed our local mosque's open-day, but thanks to Imtiaz mentioning it on the Hewitt Road WhatsApp group this morning, I was able to pop down briefly this afternoon.
I learned quite a bit about how the mosque started and how it runs today.
Harringay's mosque was started in 1983 by Guyanese Indian Abdool Alli long with a small group of Muslims, predominantly from Guyana. The group felt the need to create a welcoming space to bring together its members both religiously and socially. The mosque retains it Guyanese connections today and still has a Guyanese president: apparently, it is known as the Guyanese Mosque. However, it is far from being exclusive: it has a Bangladeshi imam and counts 33 nationalities amongst its community.
For the first few years, the mosque was run in Abdool Alli's home on Willoughby Road. Then in 1985, the group bought a house in Parkview Road, Tottenham. Two years later they acquired the former synagogue on the corner of Wightman and Hampden Roads.
Between 1998 and 2002, the new mosque was built. I was told that the group were determined not to be beholden to any funder and so raised all the funds from their worshippers and other well-wishers. Each item needed for building was costed and then donors gave an amount they could afford sufficient to fund a particular part, for example a window or a section of the huge prayer carpet.
In 2013 two additional floors were added, which included numerous classrooms along with a large function room.
I was completely unaware of the mosque's Guyanese connection. This has a particular resonance for me since I was a child of Empire, born in Georgetown.
Everyone I met at the mosque was most welcoming and very friendly. My visit means that the mosque has gone from being a building of mystery that I walk past, to one which will offer a warm glow as I pass.
Main prayer space.
The Mirhab niche in the qibla wall which indicates the direction of Mecca
Additional men's prayer room to accommodate Friday prayer overflow. I was told that this is the original building of the synagogue.
The ladies prayer space, overlooking the men's space and facing the Mirhab
Looking north along thje New River from the first floor function room.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Dick Harris on
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Thanks for posting this Hugh. Your remarks and pictures bring back forcefully the positive impressions I formed during the visit organised by the Hornsey Historical Society in March 2017.
The Wightman Road mosque is an admirable initiative by and for our Muslim residents which evidently fills an important social need. I hope that it helps our Muslim neighbours to feel rooted in Harringay's diverse community.
Their website gives further information: http://www.londonislamicculturalsociety.org/about
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Permalink Reply by JJ B on
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Well Hugh. One of my brothers was born in Georgetown. We lived there for a time when I was wee lad.
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I was born in Jamaica in 1960. My bro was born in Georgetown in1962. My sister in Trinidad in 1964…
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Permalink Reply by matt on
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Was also unaware of the Guyanese connection. Visited 9 years ago for funeral
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