Windsor Street Methodist

101 W. Windsor Street

History: Windsor Street Methodist Church’s first sanctuary space was built in 1904, and another section was added in 1922. Automaker Charles Duryea was a member of the original congregation; he helped fund the church and actually taught Sunday School as well. In the early 2010’s there was only one mosque in Reading. The increase of Muslims in Reading created a need for another mosque in the city. In 2011, after the Methodist congregation disbanded, the Islamic Society of Berks, also known as Masjid Al-Sabireen (meaning mosque of the patient) purchased the property.

Congregation/space: Some of the original church interior has changed, the pews were removed to create prayer space and the cross was replaced with an intricately hand-carved, large calligraphy of the Kalima, but the original stained glass remains throughout the building. The building features a large worship space and a spacious secondary area to hold the roughly 125 worshipers that come into the mosque weekly.

Programs: The Islamic Society has youth programming, group gatherings, and prayers services.