Kingston Mosque has launched an emergency appeal to raise £150,000 after a fire ravaged the internal structure of the building leaving it unusable and temporarily closed last week.
Mosque trustees were forced to find alternative arrangements for prayer times - up to four times a day following the unexpected fire that led to the building in East Road being evacuated just before 6pm on Tuesday, June 9.
Congregations have since been gathering at nearby St Luke’s Church facilities for daily prayers with the busier Friday prayers taking place at John Bunyan Baptist Church in Kingston.
Muslim worshippers praying inside St Luke's Church facilities
But with the month of Ramadan due to start this week, Kingston College has also opened its doors for larger numbers in the evenings.
Councillor Shiraz Mirza said: "This is what’s called community spirit in Kingston. When the time of need comes, people come forward.
"I made a call to the Kingston College principal Peter Mayhew-Smith and he said he would do anything he could to help."
Kingston College principal Peter Mayhew Smith said: “They are in a real bind especially with Ramadan starting and it is a great privilege to be able to house our neighbours.”
He added the college had offered out their sports hall which can accommodate up to 1,000 people between 10pm and 1am, and would be putting in extra security and staffing where necessary with some cost to the mosque.
To donate to Kingston Mosque’s emergency appeal visit k-m-a.org.uk.
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