Improvised Religious Spaces

Authored by Sebass Cherian 

Opening Ceremony
Opening Ceremony
Opening Ceremony

The Chinmaya Ganapati Mission in Chaska was purchased from a Methodist church in 2009.

Front entrance of Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center
Front entrance of Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center
Front entrance of Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center

This Faribault mosque was originally built as a foundry. 

Mandir
Mandir
Mandir

The Minnesota Hindu Milan Mandir has repurposed what was originally a Lutheran church. 

Although it may seem convenient to inherit a building from a previous owner, adapting a building for religious purposes is a costly and complicated process. The following pages offer a glimpse at improvised religious spaces in Minnesota and invite you to learn more about the unique communities behind these transformations.