An East London cemetery now has a new multi-faith prayer room along with specific facilities for the Muslim faith as part of major improvement works. Barking and Dagenham Council has invested £400,000 into Chadwell Heath Cemetery which includes landscaping improvements, tree and shrub planting, new footpaths, fencing and pergolas and the introduction of a pet cemetery.
A new 100 sqm building has been constructed to include the multi-faith prayer room and a reflection facility, as well as washing areas and separate toilet facilities. The project has been supported by Al Madina Mosque in Barking and Gardens of Peace in Hainault, which is the largest dedicated Muslim cemetery in the country.
Al Madina Mosque has helped to provide furnishings, a new carpet and has donated The Quran for the building, while Gardens of Peace has helped to train staff on the Muslim burial process. Ash Siddique, Secretary at Al Madina Mosque, said he first contacted the council during the Covid-19 pandemic, as residents were concerned that local Muslim burial space could run out.
Mr Siddique told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): "I reached out to the local authority, the leadership they were amazingly responsive - they just wanted to give us reassurance that there would be burial spaces available. That's really where it started, I then continued to liaise with them, then we identified an area of the cemetery where Muslim burials can take place."
Mr Siddique added: "We worked closely with the cemetery director, cemetery staff, Gardens of Peace and the council and that's where we ended up. There's an area which is for Muslim burials which is supported by the sexton at the cemetery, they work with the staff at Gardens of Peace who will help with the style of the burial in accordance with Islamic needs."
The plans to improve the cemetery were approved during a cabinet meeting back in June 2023. Since making the cemetery improvements, Cllr Saima Ashraf, Deputy Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said: "It's fantastic to see just how improved the facilities are at Chadwell Heath Cemetery. The council listened to local residents and I am proud to see the improvements which include a brand new Multi-Faith and Reflection Facility complete with wash areas and separate toilet facilities."
Cllr Ashraf went on to thank Al Madina Mosque and Gardens of Peace for their continued support, which she said played a huge role in making the project a 'real success'. Cllr Kashif Haroon, Cabinet Member for Public Realm and Climate Change, said: "This important and collaborative work means we can continue to support the burial needs of our borough and provide a peaceful place for people to come and remember their loved ones for many years to come."
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