A FORMER Methodist Church is to become Bexley’s first mosque.

The announcement of the new mosque, in Crayford High Street, will end a 20-year search by Muslims living in Dartford and Bexley for a home of their own.

There are now around 10,000 Muslims living across the two areas and, up until now, they have made do with an office in Highfield Road, Dartford, which only has planning permission for use by 50 people.

Until now, North West Kent Muslim Association, which has bought the former Crayford Methodist Church, has been forced to hold Friday prayers, the largest prayer gathering of the week, at the community centre on Dartford’s Tree estate.

The association announced its new home at a gathering in the former church.

As well as local Muslim leaders, representatives of other churches and community groups, police and fire chiefs and Bexley councillors also attended and were welcomed by the president of the association, Alhaj Lutful Waheed.

Dr Faz Rashid told them Muslims were a peaceful people and one of the first things the Qu’ran asked of them was to take care of their neighbours.

He said: “We always try to live this.

“Terrorism is the religion practised terrorists, not Islam.

“We are the silent majority and we want to live in peace with our neighbours.”

Borough police commander Chief Superintendent Tony Dawson, a practising Christian, promised to “protect the mosque as it if was my own church”.

There was a warm welcome from community leaders, including Crayford councillors Howard Marriner and Melvin Seymour, who said they hoped the mosque would become an integral part of the town’s future.

Councillor Katie Perrior, cabinet member for community affairs, welcomed the mosque on behalf of Bexley Council, and said: “We hope you have a long life in Crayford which is peaceful and safe, and we will work together to make sure this is the case.”

Methodist minister the Rev Tim Crome said the Methodist church was happy religious worship would continue in the building, rather than the site be redeveloped.

Ministers from other churches in the town said they looked forward to fellowship with the mosque and there were also welcomes from Bexley’s Sikh and Hindu communities.

The Muslim association also appealed to the council to help it find parking for worshippers attending Friday prayers.