Abu Bakr Islamic Centre

The Abu Bakr Masjid & Islamic Centre (also known as Abu Bakr Islamic Centre / Masjid Abu Bakr) traces its origins to the Abu Bakr Trust, which was registered as a charity on 19 August 1997 (Charity Commission no. 1064014). The trust was formed with the aim of building a purpose-built Islamic centre in the west of Reading to promote the teachings of Islam and provide Islamic education to the local Muslim community. The vision for the project dates back to the early 1990s.

After many years of fundraising and construction, the doors of the new purpose-built mosque opened during the holy month of Ramadan in 2013. The centre describes itself as the first purpose-built mosque in Reading. It is located at 330 Oxford Road in the Battle ward of West Reading and serves the wider Reading Muslim community as well as the broader public, operating an open-door policy that welcomes group visits and guided tours.

Beyond the five daily prayers and Friday Jummah, the centre runs a madrasah for children, education programmes for adults and children, Tajweed sessions for seniors, youth clubs and sports activities. It also provides community services including Nikah (marriage) services, Shahadah and revert support, funeral services, and community events and workshops. Daily prayers and Friday Khutbahs are also live-streamed online.