The Worcester Islamic community began to gather in the early 1970s. In 1979, the community purchased a Catholic church and renovated it for use as an Islamic center. Today, the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester provides the Muslim community with an environment conducive to the development of Islamic values and practices here in America. With close ties to the Muslim Students Associations at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Clark University, the Islamic Society has placed great emphasis on the education of its youth since its founding in the late 1970s. The 41,000 square foot Worcester Islamic Center has three levels which have a prayer hall, school, gymnasium, kitchen, cafeteria and social hall. The center is big enough to accommodate 1,700 people for prayer as well as up to 300 student capacity school. The center is sited on 2.5 acres of land and has a parking capacity of 170 cars. The Second level is the Prayer hall. It is designed to face Qibla (direction of prayer) on its eastern side. It accommodates 1700 people for prayers and 1000 people when social function. The prayer hall is one of the largest prayer facilities in New England. Added on June 21, 2005 and last updated 11 years ago