Take a Fascinating Tour Around Maidenhead’s Mini Mosque
Maidenhead Central Mosque is a mini mosque perfect for a mini town… For those who don’t know where Maidenhead is, it is a small market town in-between Reading and Slough. As well as being Theresa May’s constituency, it is also part of the Silicon Corridor- a major tech hub that runs along the M4, from South Wales to London. In Maidenhead alone, the major companies Three and Tesla have set up their UK headquarters here. Other big names here include GSK, Seiko, and Adobe.
Although Maidenhead itself is not a very exciting place, there are some very scenic views of the Thames by the Maidenhead Bridge. A great place to come for a relaxing walk or picnic. Plus, there are some green spaces here such as Kidwell Park, which even has its own football pitches and tennis courts.
Everything here is mini- it has its own mini shopping mall, mini restaurants, mini cinema, and even a mini mosque. This mosque opened in the late 1900s to serve Maidenhead’s growing Muslim community. You can find out more about Maidenhead mosque’s history on their website.
First Impressions
Finding the mosque from the town centre was a bit of a challenge because the steps to Holmenleaze Road were well hidden by the trees along the A4, making it very easy to miss. After I pulled out Google Maps, I was able to find it quite easily. Straight away when I entered the street, the mosque caught my eye, like a beacon shining amongst the dull buildings here- it’s red orange bricks, with an emerald green minaret on top.
The Inside of the Mosque
In contrast, the inside had red carpets, and some very intricate art too in the main prayer room. I particularly liked the blue tile art, which caught my eye when I walked in there. Furthermore, the atmosphere here very calming, and the people were very friendly and made me feel very welcome.
The Wudu Facilities
The wudu facilites here were really well maintained. They also acheived the perfect balance between old and new through their decor. The use of black and white tiles gives it a modern look, in conjunction with the wooden window frames and wooden stools, which adds that vintage touch. But, the one thing that stood out to me was the posters on the wall showing how to do wudu properly, which is something I don’t always see at other mosques I have visited.
Tour of Maidenhead Mosque
When I came in August 2019, one of the attendees kindly gave me a tour. He showed me the main prayer room on the ground floor, the wudu facilities, and several entrances around the car park. Lastly, he showed me the top floor. Here, we had a conversation about the mosque’s history, and how it has changed over time.
Programmes and Events at Maidenhead Mosque
The mosque hosts a variety of programmes and events including children’s classes (Madrasah), workshops, and nationwide events such as Visit My Mosque, where people of all faiths can come and find out more about Islam. Prominent people who have taken part in this initiative include Theresa May, and Councillor Simon Dudley. You can find out more here: https://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/gallery/maidenhead/127759/maidenhead-s-mosques-open-their-doors-for-national-open-day-initative.html
If you are interested in attending a personal tour of the mosque, you can book a free place here: http://www.maidenheadmosque.org/1/visits-tours
Workshops here include weekly Quran classes for adults, and even a week long coding course for children last year.
Verdict
Ultimately, I loved this mosque not just because of its design, but also because of the people here. It’s the people that make a place great. Despite being a mini mosque, the sense of community and their role here are massive, which is why this mosque benefits the whole of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM), be it through small workshops or nationwide events such as Visit My Mosque…
Find out more about Maidenhead Central Mosque:
http://www.maidenheadmosque.org/
Facebook Page:
https://en-gb.facebook.com/MaidenheadMosque/
Directions to Maidenhead Central Mosque:
Get your miswak here:
Get a pocket prayer mat: