Here is a small-resort town on the Thames Estuary in Essex, southeast England named Southend-On-Sea. The long Southend Pier is serviced by a small train and has a museum at its shore end.
Nearby, Adventure Island is an amusement park with fairground rides and water slides. The Cliff Lift, a century-old funicular, clings to the hillside and offers coastal views. Sea Life Adventure aquarium is home to otters, clownfish and turtles.
And in Southend-On-Sea there was a historic Church in Chelmsford Avenue named United Reformed Church. But it was sold to The Essex Jamme Masjid Trust Ltd. for £850,000 in November 2007.
With further investment and a major refurbishment project it is turned into a mosque minarets and Islamic academy. Now the name of this converted Church is The Essex Jamme Masjid and Academy.
Today we are going to tell you the story of this mosque and a Bangladeshi who has contributed a lot here and is doing great job. Currently he is the Grand Imam-Khatib and Principal of this complex. Needless to say, He and his comrades-in-arms caused a stir by the purchasing of this Church. Later he played a major role in the formation of the Islamic Complex there.
The main structure of the 107-year-old building remained much the same, and as the exterior of the old church hall and a house converted to four flats next door.
The church was put up for sale when dwindling congregations led to the merger of four United Reformed churches, creating the Eastern Southend United Reformed Church organization, based at the main site in Bournemouth Park Road.
The church held its last service in February 2006. Later that year the church property section submitted a planning application for it to be converted into a three-store block of 14 flats.
After the plan was refused by Southend Council it was put on the market. It was bought by the Muslim association to meet the demands of a growing Muslim population in the borough. The group was based at Milton Road, in Westcliff, but has outgrown the premises, while the former church offers the larger building it needs. The trust, which was established in 1986, has spent on the work and the development including the purchase price of around £2 million.
At the time of purchase of the church Chairman of the Trust Mohammed Shamsuddin said to the press: “We are lucky. We feel it is God given. This place which nobody wanted was available and we hadn’t found anywhere else big enough. It is perfect for us.
We are very happy, overjoyed this is going to be our main mosque. We will stay here for many years to come.
After two decades at the Milton Road, we couldn’t accommodate everybody. We have about 250 members come to Friday prayers. At this building we can have slightly more, up to 300, and do more work.”
The Grand Imam Shaykh mahmudul Hasan who is the Director of TV One UK (a popular satellite TV channel across Europe) said, ‘after arriving in Britain, I was invited to take charge of a small mosque in Southend-on-Sea, a town 40 miles from London. I pray Istikhara and in a blessed dream I see the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) passing by a project under construction. I believed that surely there will be a big project in this city.
The Khatib of this mosque and Principal of the academy Shaykh Mahmudul added, Alhamdulillah, the church was bought and renovated here in 2007. A three-storied mosque, Islamic academy and complex were established. In a second floor where the women pray, while the men use the ground floor.’
After making some alterations to add washing facilities, used by Muslims before they enter a mosque to pray the old church hall provide a community hall. It’s also used for community activities and religious classes for children.
Mr. Shamsuddin said: “Much of the work has been done by our members who are working for free. They have learned the trade and given their time. It is also funded by our members they give donations of what they like and we have charity collections.”
He added: “It is a lovely building and much of the structure is staying the same. It’s a beautiful front elevation and will stay that way.
“We are lucky to have nice neighbors in a nice community. They have been welcoming and say they are pleased to know the building is being used again after became empty. It’s a good cause. People say it’s good we are keeping it as a religious building.”
Shaykh Mahmudul said to us, ‘Alhamdulillah, many non-Muslims have already accepted Islam here. We organize 'Open Day' to invite to Islam. Non-Muslims come to the mosque. There is an opportunity to ask questions. Islamic Dawah stalls are held in various town centers, hospitals and public places. Students from various schools, colleges and universities are invited and analysis about Islam is presented to them. We have regular dialogue with other religious organizations. Organized a workshop on Islam for police department. Efforts to spread Islam are carried out by taking various such initiatives.
Who is Shaykh Mahmudul Hasan?
Shaykh Mahmudul Hasan is a British-Bangladeshi Muslim scholar. He is a Renowned media personality and One of the pioneers of the Preaching of Islam in Britain. He is well-known as a prolific writer-researcher and analyst too.
He traveled around the world with education, theology & socio-philosophy and the glorious message of Islam. Participated in international seminars and symposiums in different countries.
He was born in an aristocratic Muslim family in Hinguli, Mirsarai, Chittagong, Bangaldesh. He is the eldest son of Haji Muhammad Ilyas and Laila Akhtar.
In 1993, he finished his Dawraye Hadith (Takmeel class) from Befaqul Madarishil Arabia Bangladesh (Qawmi Madrasa Education Board) with first class first and got a record number of marks in the whole country.
He holds B.A. & M.A. from the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies in Chittagong University. In both the exams he got first place in the first class.
He also received a bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Islamic Theology from the Al-Azhar University, Egypt. He completes a Post-Graduation Diploma on Islamic Philosophy at Cairo University with a government scholarship.
He started his career as teacher at Al-Jamia Al-Islamia Patiya, one of the most reputed Islamic schools in the country. About eight years he served as a senior teacher in that institution.
On December 5th 2000, he joined Department of the Quranic Sciences and Studies of International Islamic University, Chittagong. He served there for three and a half years with distinction. Later became a lecturer in the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies in the University of Chittagong on August 1, 2004.
He received another master's degree in 2006 from The Markfield Institute of Higher Education at Loughborough University in England, later that year started his PhD at the Institute of Education in London.
He and his friends founded the QnS Academy London in 2020, offering online educational courses. In future there are plans to upgrade it to university level. And He has been conducting humanitarian activities in different regions of Bangladesh through Rain Drops Trust (A charity organization) for the past few years.
He gained fame throughout Europe for a Q&A show named Jibon Jiggasha on the popular channel NTV EUROPE. My Deen TV, an international TV channel based in London and America, and Bangladesh based Shakal TV regularly airs his religious content.
Every year he takes the seat of chief guest of a religious conference called Tafseerul Quran Mahfil in Bangladesh. He has participated in Da'wah activities in different countries of the world. On that occasion, countries like America, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Finland, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Belgium, Malaysia, Sweden, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Uganda, and Sierra Leone have been visited.
There are several fund organizations he leads that are helping Destitute, orphans and widows and disabled people constantly. For this purpose, he has been conducting service activities in various poor countries of the world.
Writing letters to newspapers on various issues helped him develop the writing habit. A journey started there still moving along with Many articles, Books and translations. Some of his notable Bengali books are Jibon Jiggasha, Mimbarer Dhoni, Ziboner Rongdhonu, Muslim Deshe Omuslimer odhikar, Mukto Kanika.
Nowadays Shaykh Mahmudul Hasan is a popular author, renowned media personality, well-known Muslim scholar, religious speaker & famous Instructor; has got followers across the world.
