The Greenford Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is commemorating a significant milestone in its religious and civic history, marking 100 years since the inauguration of a landmark place of worship in Southfields.
The establishment holds distinction as London’s inaugural purpose-built mosque, constructed in 1926, and has served for a century as a hub for religious observance, interfaith engagement, and charitable initiatives aimed at the broader local population.
Dr Mansoor Javed, who leads the Greenford branch, explained the institution’s foundational role in establishing Ahmad community presence across the country.
Missionaries dispatched from that original London location were instrumental in creating the communities now found throughout British towns and cities, with the Greenford congregation tracing its origins directly to those early efforts.
Observers noted that the centenary is being observed in keeping with traditional values, prioritising service to neighbouring residents and demonstrating that religious spaces can serve as centres of practical assistance and peaceful coexistence.
The celebration carries the theme of the mosque representing a symbol of harmony spanning a century of community integration, civic devotion and outreach.
To mark the occasion, the congregation has arranged a 12-month initiative encompassing the provision of meals totalling 10,000 portions for individuals experiencing homelessness or financial hardship, alongside an equivalent commitment of 10,000 hours of unpaid work assisting vulnerable people nationwide.
Complementing these efforts, a publicity drive will see advertisements displayed on 100 buses operating in the capital throughout October, highlighting the establishment’s heritage and ongoing activities.
Throughout its existence, the premises has received visits from an array of notable figures, among them the founder of Pakistan, the distinguished diplomat Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan, award-winning physicist Professor Abdus Salam, and representatives of royal households from Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.
Official recognition of its historical importance arrived in 2018 when Historic England conferred listed building status, and further distinction followed in March 2026 when Wandsworth Borough Council awarded a green heritage plaque.
The worldwide leader of the Ahmadiyya movement, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, addressed the milestone by emphasising the enduring purpose of the establishment.
Across its hundred-year history, the mosque has functioned as a sanctuary for worship and a base for humanitarian endeavour, with its story illustrating the conviction that authentic spirituality manifests through neighbourly assistance, patriotic duty and peaceful relations with individuals of all creeds and backgrounds.
The venue has also accommodated proceedings connected to national commemorations, including festivities marking the late monarch’s jubilees and the recent Coronation of King Charles III.