Fazl Mosque in Southfields Celebrates One Hundred Years

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The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community gathers to mark milestone

Fazl Mosque. Picture: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK

October 2, 2026

The Fazl Mosque in Southfields will mark a historic milestone this weekend as the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK celebrates the centenary of London’s first purpose-built mosque. Opened on 3 October 1926, the modest building on Gressenhall Road has, for a hundred years, been far more than a place of worship.

The mosque’s origins lie in the early twentieth century, when the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community sought a permanent base in Britain. Under the direction of the Second Caliph, Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad, land was purchased in 1920 and the foundation stone laid during his visit to London in 1924. The construction was funded entirely through donations raised in India — including a remarkable contribution from Ahmadiyya women, whose donations ensured the community had a home in Britain. When the mosque opened in 1926, politicians, diplomats and faith leaders gathered to witness the inauguration of what would become an important site in the country’s interfaith landscape.

From its earliest days, the Fazl Mosque served London’s growing Muslim population and quickly became a venue for public debate and interfaith engagement. It has welcomed an extraordinary range of visitors over the decades, including Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan; Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan, President of the UN General Assembly; Nobel Laureate Professor Abdus Salam; HRH Prince Faisal and HRH Prince Saud, both future Kings of Saudi Arabia; and, more recently, HRH Prince Edward. Its heritage has been formally recognised too: Historic England granted listed status in 2018, and Wandsworth Council awarded a Green Heritage Plaque in 2026.

The opening of the Fazl Mosque. Picture: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK

The mosque’s influence grew dramatically in 1984 when the Fourth Caliph, Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, moved to London following persecution in Pakistan. The Southfields complex became the international headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community for 35 years, and from here he launched Humanity First — now a global humanitarian charity — and Muslim Television Ahmadiyya International, the world’s first global Muslim TV channel. The Fifth Caliph, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, was elected at the mosque in 2003, and for many years his addresses from Southfields provided guidance on peace, justice and human rights to a worldwide audience.

As the community grew, missionaries were sent from the Fazl Mosque to towns and cities across Britain, establishing congregations that trace their origins back to this single suburban street. Irfan Rana, President of the Fazl Mosque Jamaat, describes it simply: “Our community in Southfields exists because of that mosque in London. From the Fazl Mosque, missionaries were sent out to build communities like ours, and everything we do here began there.”

The mosque’s record of service is extensive. It has hosted celebrations for the Silver, Diamond and Platinum Jubilees of Queen Elizabeth II and the Coronation of King Charles III; organised charity walks, blood drives and food-distribution campaigns; and served as a Covid-19 vaccination centre. Its motto — Love for All, Hatred for None — has shaped a century of civic engagement and charitable work.

This year’s centenary is being marked under the theme Fazl Mosque: Beacon of Peace – A Century of Integration, Loyalty and Service. Alongside the reception on Saturday 3 October, the community is launching a year-long national programme to serve 10,000 meals to the homeless and needy, and to contribute 10,000 volunteer hours across Britain. A centenary advertising campaign will also appear on 100 London buses throughout October, with more to follow nationwide, raising awareness of the mosque’s history and its enduring mission of peace.

His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Fifth Caliph and Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, reflected on the occasion: “For one hundred years, the Fazl Mosque has stood as a place of worship, peace and service to humanity. Its history reflects the principle that true faith requires us to serve our neighbours, show loyalty to the country in which we live, and make peace with all people, regardless of their faith or background.”

The centenary reception will bring together civic leaders, diplomats, faith representatives and local residents for an evening of reflection and celebration, including an exhibition tour, speeches, a keynote address and dinner. A new permanent exhibition charting the mosque’s history and global influence will also open as part of the commemorations.

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