Christ Episcopal Church (CT) Shares Its Space with Islamic Center

from Stand Firm by Jackie

From The Hour Online:

As controversy swirls around Al-Madany Islamic Center of Norwalk’s plan to build a mosque at 127 Fillow St., members of the congregation continue to worship in the community room of Christ Episcopal Church on Emerson Street.
“We come early to set up. It takes about 15 minutes,” said Azzeim Mahmoud, imam at Al-Madany and Norwalk resident, as he rolled out prayer mats in preparation for Friday afternoon’s prayer service. “We start about 1 o’clock and finish about 20 minutes before 2 o’clock, because people have to go back to work.”
For about a year, Christ Episcopal Church has been home to Al-Madany Islamic Center of Norwalk, whose congregation numbers about 100 families. Friday’s prayer service drew about 100 men. On Saturday afternoons, Al-Madany uses the community room for an education class for children. Before that, members of the congregation prayed in the basement of a board member. In that regard, Al-Madany members now have more room but the space is hardly ideal.