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London Buddhist Vihara

Coordinates: 51°29′48″N 0°15′21″W / 51.49669°N 0.25594°W / 51.49669; -0.25594
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London Buddhist Vihara
The main building in Bedford Park, London
The main building on The Avenue, Bedford Park
Religion
AffiliationTheravada Buddhism
LeadershipAnagarika Dharmapala, founder
Location
LocationDharmapala Building, The Avenue, London W4 1UD
CountryUnited Kingdom
Geographic coordinates51°29′48″N 0°15′21″W / 51.49669°N 0.25594°W / 51.49669; -0.25594
Architecture
Architect(s)Norman Shaw (exterior);
E. J. May (interior)
Completedc. 1877
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name: London Buddhist Vihara (Former CAV Social Club)
Designated2 February 1970
Reference no.1079469
Website
www.londonbuddhistvihara.org

The London Buddhist Vihara (Sinhala:ලන්ඩන් බෞද්ධ විහාරය Landan Bauddha Viharaya) is one of the main Theravada Buddhist temples in the United Kingdom. The Vihara was the first Sri Lankan Buddhist monastery to be established outside Asia.

Established in 1926, the Vihara is managed by the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust in Colombo. The current chief bhikkhu of the Vihara is Ven Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thera, who is also the Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain.[1]

The Vihara building, Grade II listed, was the social club for the Bedford Park garden suburb until 1939. The building was designed by Norman Shaw; the interior, now much modified, was by Edward John May.

History

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Founder Anagarika Dharmapala
Founder Anagarika Dharmapala

The London Buddhist Vihara was founded in 1926 by Anagarika Dharmapala.[2]

One of the temple's main benefactors during its early days was Mary Foster, who financed ‘Foster House’ in Ealing.[3] This was the first Sri Lankan Buddhist temple established outside Asia and was named the London Buddhist Vihara in 1926. Shortly afterwards, the Vihara moved to Gloucester Road in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, where it continued until the Second World War. During the war, the temple premises were requisitioned, and the monks returned to Ceylon.

In 1955, the Vihara reopened in Ovington Square, Knightsbridge under the initiative of Sir Cyril de Zoysa.[4] Narada Nayaka Thera became the chief bhikkhu of the Vihara in 1958.[5] The Vihara moved to Heathfield Gardens, Chiswick in 1964. Hammalawa Saddhatissa Nayaka Thera subsequently became the chief Bhikkhu of the Vihara[6] and was succeeded in 1985 by Dr Medagama Vajiragnana Nayaka Thera.[7]

In 1994, The Vihara moved to its present premises at The Avenue, Chiswick. Ven Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thera was appointed as the chief bhikkhu in May 2008. The London Buddhist Vihara has several resident bhikkhus from Sri Lanka, and conducts and actively engages in religious Buddhist activities in the region.

Building

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The Vihara building was the social club for the Bedford Park garden suburb until 1939. The architect, Richard Norman Shaw, designed the exterior in 1877-8; the interior, now much modified, was by the architect Edward John May. The building was Grade II listed in 1970.[8]

  • Plans for Bedford Park Club by Norman Shaw, 1878
    Plans for Bedford Park Club by Norman Shaw, 1878
  • Sketch of The Club, Bedford Park, 1880
    Sketch of The Club, Bedford Park, 1880
  • View inside the meditation room, formerly a billiard hall, 2024
    View inside the meditation room, formerly a billiard hall, 2024

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Bogoda Seelawimala Thera appointed new Sanghanayake in Britain
  2. ^ London Buddhist Vihara Founder’s Day Celebrations
  3. ^ 75th Anniversary Celebrations of the London Buddhist Vihara
  4. ^ Sir Cyril de Zoysa, the great Buddhist devotee Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ^ A Biographical Sketch of Venerable Narada Maha Thera
  6. ^ NEW POSTAL STAMP
  7. ^ Buddhist missionary in the West after WW II[permanent dead link‍]
  8. ^ Historic England. "London Buddhist Vihara (Former CAV Social Club) (Grade II) (1079469)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
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