Wednesday 7 June 2023 | Jeth Vad 4, Samvat 2079

Wed 7 Jun 2023

History

With the divine blessings of Jeevanpran Shree Abji Bapashree and Sadguru Shree Ishwarcharandasji Swamibapa, many disciples traveled to East Africa from the 1920s onwards. During the early 1960's Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa encouraged the migration of many of the disciples to the United Kingdom. Some devotees arrived and settled in the industrial town of Bolton, Lancashire.

History Fact & Figures Swamibapa Tour
 

With the divine blessings of Jeevanpran Shree Abji Bapashree and Sadguru Shree Ishwarcharandasji Swamibapa, many disciples traveled to East Africa from the 1920s onwards. During the early 1960\'s Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa encouraged the migration of many of the disciples to the United Kingdom. Some devotees arrived and settled in the industrial town of Bolton, Lancashire.

At first, they held congregations in the front room of a disciple's home. As numbers increased, this became inadequate. With the divine blessings of Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa the devotees purchased a property on Deane Road, to convert into a Temple and in 1974, Jeevanpran Swamibapa inaugurated the Temple for the spiritual, cultural and social welfare of the residents of Bolton. Under the merciful divine vision of Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa, the assiduous devotees prospered using their manual and entrepreneurial skills to become mainstays of the Bolton community.

Shree Swaminarayan Mandir & Art Gallery

With an ever-growing congregation, it became necessary for the congregation to find larger and more purpose built accommodations. By the grace of Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa the devotees did not need to look further than across the street, where a disused church had become available. In 1996 renovations began to transform the dilapidated buildings into a Temple and community hall for the local neighbourhood. On Sunday the 15th of June 1997, following another three-day Festival, the Temple was inaugurated by His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree Purushottampriyadasji Maharaj.

 

Inside view of Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Arts and Culture Centre

The devotees of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan in and around Bolton continued to practise their unique blend of Swaminarayan spiritualism and Indian culture. With the divine vision of Acharya Swamishree Purushottampriyadasji Maharaj, Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Arts and Culture Centre was established.