THE Winchester Muslim Cultural Association (WMCA) held a special reception for friends and neighbours in the newly acquired Winchester Islamic Centre in Hyde Street. 

More than 100 people attended the reception, on Sunday, March 31, held during the month of Ramadan, the Muslim Holy month of fasting and charitable giving. 

Guests included the Very Rev Catherine Ogle, Dean of Winchester, as well as Canon Roly Riem and Rev Karen Kousseff, rector of St. Bartholomew’s Church, which sold the building to the WMCA. 

Hampshire Chronicle: Winchester Muslim Cultural Association Ramadan event

Other guests included the deputy mayor Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith and Hyde Street neighbours. 
Also county councillor Dominic Hiscock and representatives from the fire service, police and Southampton and Winchester visitor’s group and Hyde Women’s Institute.

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People were welcomed and shown around the property and the modest alterations carried out to make it suitable for congregational use. 

Cllr Gordon-Smith said: “It’s a great joy to be here and so good to see an old building coming back into use. It’s wonderful for our community and our faiths to mix together and it enriches.”

Hampshire Chronicle: Winchester Muslim Cultural Association Ramadan event

Ahmed Sabbir Moon, chairman of WMCA, said: “It’s a great honour to host our friends and neighbours in this historic building and have the chance to thank you for your support and advice and to thank the St. Bartholomew’s and the Hyde community for extending their friendship. We look forward to working together on many initiatives going forwards.”

People were then invited to observe the breaking of the day-long fast with dates and water and the congregational evening prayer. This was followed by a communal dinner donated by restaurant Rhim Jhim in City Road.

There was quite a lot of food left over and the WMCA donated this to the Winchester Beacon and residents of the night shelter.