59 Brick Lane: A History of Adaptive Reuse

Abstract

This paper explores the history of 59 Brick Lane (presently Brick Lane Jamme Masjid) in Spitalfields, East London through the lens of adaptive reuse. 59 Brick Lane was initially built in 1743 as a French Calvinist Protestant church. It later transitioned to use by an ecumenical missionary organization (1809–1816), was used as a Wesleyan Methodist chapel (1819–1897), then as a synagogue (1897–1975), and is currently in use as a mosque (1975–present). This discussion will trace different communities’ use of a single religious building and resulting material alterations as a manifestation of shared tangible and intangible heritage, a process referred to by the author as the “sacred shift.” 1 This will also demonstrate religious denominations’ multi-layered considerations as they negotiated self-identification and demarcation amidst existing physical, social, and legal constructs, making clear the challenges of marrying heritage buildings with sustainable community use.