21.07.2026 00:50
King Charles III of England visited Cambridge Central Mosque, which opened in 2019 with a ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and is described as "Europe's first eco-friendly mosque," meeting with representatives of the Muslim community.
King Charles III of England visited Cambridge Central Mosque, described as "Europe's first eco-friendly mosque," and met with representatives of the Muslim community.
During the visit, King Charles spoke with the mosque's imams, trustees, and members of the Muslim community in Cambridge. The visit was also attended by Türkiye's Ambassador to London Osman Koray Ertaş, Cambridge Mosque Trust trustee Zeynep Coşkun Koç, Deputy President of Religious Affairs Assoc. Prof. Dr. Selim Argun, and many other guests.
As part of the visit, which underscored support for England's religious diversity, King Charles toured various sections of the mosque, built with contributions from the Turkish Religious Foundation (TDV), and received information from officials.
During the visit, King Charles toured the mosque's "Community Garden" and learned about sustainability practices and social service activities carried out by the mosque community.
The King was also introduced to the architectural features of the mosque, designed by London-based Marks Barfield Architects. Julia Barfield, the director of the firm, accompanied the King during the visit.
The discussions also addressed the role religious communities can play in combating global warming, as well as Islamic teachings on preserving Allah's creations.
It was noted that King Charles, known for his interest in architecture, showed particular interest in the project, which aims to establish a uniquely British mosque design language.
King Charles also received information from officials about the mosque community's social service activities and the role of young people in these efforts.
The discussions also evaluated the contributions of Cambridge Central Mosque and other places of worship to making the city an attractive destination for international talent.
THREE GIFTS PRESENTED IN COMMEMORATION OF THE VISIT
During the visit, King Charles was presented with a glass paperweight inspired by the dome architecture of the Selimiye Mosque, produced by Paşabahçe; a limited edition copy of Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin's work "The Scientific Heritage of Islamic Civilization"; and a prestige book detailing the construction process, architectural approach, and 23 awards won by Cambridge Central Mosque.
The visit also highlighted the importance of religious and ethnic diversity in Cambridge—a city hosting academics and researchers from around the world—for the city's social fabric, economy, and international reputation.
King Charles' visit to Cambridge Central Mosque was recorded as one of the major visits by a British monarch to a Muslim place of worship.
One of the early examples of such visits was Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Scunthorpe Mosque in 2002.
INAUGURATED WITH A CEREMONY ATTENDED BY PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN
Cambridge Central Mosque, built in the city of Cambridge, England, and inaugurated in 2019 with a ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, stands out as "Europe's first eco-friendly mosque."
The mosque utilizes photovoltaic panels, air-source heat pumps, a sedum roof, natural ventilation systems, and timber sourced from sustainably managed forests.
Mostly built with natural materials like wood and marble, the mosque also attracts attention for its zero carbon footprint feature.
Rainwater is stored for watering saplings and cleaning, and approximately 40% of the mosque's electricity is generated from solar energy.
Thanks to a system on the mosque's roof that converts air temperature into heat, water in hot water tanks and the floor are heated.
Using sensors, if oxygen levels decrease or temperature rises indoors, hot air is drawn out through upper compartments and fresh air is supplied.
Due to its eco-friendly nature, windows are placed in dome shapes on the mosque's ceiling to admit light from above and reflect sunlight directly inside.
The mosque's architecture incorporates traces of the fan vaults from nearby King's College Chapel and the cross-patterned Victorian brickwork common in Cambridge's Romsey area.
Additionally, Cambridge Central Mosque regularly delivers food packages to families facing financial difficulties in the city and organizes health awareness events.
Used as a local vaccination center during the COVID-19 period, the mosque also hosts social responsibility activities such as voluntary litter collection efforts by young people.
The mosque maintains close ties with the Cambridge Council of Mosques, Cambridge Muslim College, and other religious communities in South Cambridgeshire.
AWARDED MULTIPLE PRIZES
The design of Cambridge Central Mosque was based on Islamic aesthetics, artistic tradition, the lifestyle of Prophet Muhammad, and the importance he placed on nature conservation.
Built following an architectural competition organized according to these principles, the mosque has received numerous international awards for its design.
TDV was one of the largest donors in the project's financing, while the mosque was realized with support from Yapı Merkezi and contributions from local and international philanthropists.
Largely completed in April 2019 and capable of accommodating approximately one thousand worshippers at a time, the mosque's garden was designed in accordance with Islamic traditions, while priority was also given to the building's eco-friendly features.