The Fazl Mosque in Wandsworth, London, is celebrating its hundredth anniversary as the city’s oldest mosque. When the building opened exactly one hundred years ago, it was described by contemporary observers as architecturally striking, featuring white exterior walls and manicured gardens in a south London residential area. The grand opening ceremony drew approximately 600 guests and marked a significant moment in British Islamic history.
The mosque, which serves members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, has become deeply integrated into its local area. According to community representatives, the institution provides meals during religious holidays, maintains relationships with neighbors of other faiths, participates in environmental upkeep, and organizes blood donation and vaccination drives. Leadership emphasizes that the mosque’s core message centers on universal acceptance, described as “love for all, hatred for none.” While leaders report limited experiences with Islamophobia at the location, they note occasional incidents of low-level harassment have occurred in the surrounding community.
The mosque’s physical structure has remained largely unchanged since its opening, preserving its distinctive architectural features including a green dome and narrow vertical windows. Historic England granted the building listed status in 2018, recognizing its cultural significance. The original land purchase was financed primarily through contributions from Ahmadi Muslims from Qadian in India, many of whom were women who sold personal jewelry to fund the project despite knowing they would likely never visit the completed structure.
The mosque has played notable roles beyond religious practice throughout its history. During the second world war, it functioned as an air raid shelter for the local community. Historical records indicate that in the 1930s, the mosque’s imam helped facilitate political developments that eventually led to the partition of British India. In recent decades, the facility has served public health functions during major vaccination campaigns.
Centenary commemorations include a program to distribute ten thousand free meals to people experiencing homelessness. Community leaders and longtime members frame the anniversary as reflecting the founders’ vision of faith, peace, and human unity established in the aftermath of the first world war. Current leadership has expressed hope that the mosque will continue serving as a connecting institution across communities for future generations.
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