LOCAL HISTORY

Woking has been linked to Bahá'í history for more than a century now.   The local Bahá'i Assembly has been Incorporated as a Charity for many years and is at the forefront of various inter-Faith and associated activities.

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In 1911 Sir 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas, Bahá'u'lláh's son and successor, stayed in the area during a visit to London, Bristol and Edinburgh during which he spoke at temples, Churches and Meeting Rooms around the country. 

In 1913 He returned and gave a sermon at Woking Mosque which was reported in the Surrey Advertiser at the time...

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In 1871  the first English Bahá'í, Thomas Breakwell, was born in Station Road and attended the local school.   He  became  a  Bahá'í in Paris on his return from  America,  and  was  named  as  one  of  the  '3 luminaries' of the British Isles. 

In the 1980s a nation-wide system of Bahá'í Sunday Schools was named after him, and local Bahá'ís have visited his final resting place at the Cimetiére du Pantin in Paris.

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A slightly more tenuous link to history is the fact that Bahá'í architect Mr. Fariburz Sahba stayed in Woking, with his Associate Architect Mashiyyat Ashraf, whilst they were working with Flint, Neil Consulting Engineers on the design of the uniquely  beautiful  'Lotus  Temple'  in  New  Delhi.     Mr. Sahba was also responsible for designing the terraces  and  gardens  surrounding  the  Shrine of  the Báb on Mount Carmel. 

Local Bahá'ís have been privileged to attend the opening ceremony of each of these inspired creations...

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http://www.bahaindia.org	Delhi 'lotus' temple http://www.bahaindia.org/temple/interview.html
Terraces to the Shrine of the Báb, Mount Carmel, Israel	The Arc of the Baha'í administration Fariburz Sahba was also the site manager for the building of the Administrative Centre on Mount Carmel
Thomas Breakwell The first English Bahá'í, born in Woking

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