This dissertation discusses the formative years of the Jain Centre, Leicester, from 1979 when Jain Samaj Leicester, the community body of the Jains in Leicester, bought a dilapidated former chapel and set about converting it into a centre for the community. Central in the plan was the religious dimension which was to unite four "sects" of Jainism under one roof, Svetambara, Digambara, Sthanakvasi and the devotees of Srimad Rajchandra. The prehistory of Jain Samaj is looked at briefly, from the first meetings in members' homes and the formal foundation of Jain Samaj Leicester in 1973. In the main body of the dissertation, in Chapter Three, the approach is largely historical, with the key events being singled out for detailed examination. The account is taken right up-to-date, to 2001. A final chapter analyses the factors which led to the success of this venture. Chapter One provides essential introductory orientation on the Jains, both as a community and as followers of an ancient religion, relating this to the situation of the Jains in Leicester. In a second part of this chapter sources and methodology are outlined. Primary sources comprise (a) Information from members of the Jain community, (b) Participant observation by the author over a quarter of a century, (c) A large collection of written material put together over the years and comprising letters, notices and much more from Jain Samaj and others, and runs of the newsletters and journal published by Jain Samaj, as well as news cuttings, particularly from the local press. These three sources have been of roughly equal weight. Secondary sources are the author's own collection of some 200 books and pamphlets on Jainism and the Jains, together with the resources of other libraries particularly that of the School of Oriental and African Studies. Chapter Two provides a description of the Jain Centre and examines some aspects of its functioning. Chapter Four is devoted to the temple, its architecture and iconography, and the religious life centred there. Finally, in Chapter Five an analysis is made of some key aspects of the Centre's history, and a tentative forecast of the future is attempted.
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