Praying in congregation has 25 to 27 times more reward than praying on your own. This is however for men and not for women because they are advised by messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to offer their daily prayers at home.

Another similar issue is; offering optional prayers at home are better than praying them in Masjid as the messenger of Allah said;

‘Prayer of a perosn in his house is better than his prayer in my masjid except for obligatory prayers’ and in another narration..

‘Do not make your houses like grave yards, offer prayers in your homes’

From this we can conclude that optional prayers have more excellence being offered at home than in a masjid. Similarly, women are requested by  Prophet of Allah to offer their prayers at home, meaning that their prayers at home are better than offering them in masjid because his request has a signifance in the reward of that action just like requesting us to offer our optional prayers at home rather than in a masjid. Also when he told us to delay Dhur prayer when it is too hot or when food has been presented infront of us or delaying Esha prayer. All these requests have significance in the reward because it involves following the sunnah and even though Salat should be prayed on its due time but following the sunnah in those exceptions has greater reward because it involves following an instruction of Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).

All of this said, it does not mean that we cannot offer our optinal prayers in masjid, but the excellence is not the same. Similarly, women can pray in masjid but the excellence is not the same.

We also know that he said in another narration that if women wish to attend masjid then do not stop them, aslong as there is no fitnah or other factors which may effect men.

Another case we could take is when Prophet of Allah used to pray Eid prayer outside and would tell menstruating women not to come near the musalla. Some scholars have said, this was to prevent menstruating women taking up space for those women who came to offer Eid prayer because according to an opinion, Eid prayer is compulsory upon everyone.

In UK we know that masajid are very small to accomodate both genders. I understand that at the moment this masjid where you are praying is not fully built. In this case, let the men offer their prayers 1^st before letting the women come there because like I said, men are more deserving to attend Jummah because it is fard upon them and if women are using up space then they should pray at home and not jeperdise it for men who are there to fulfill an obligatory duty.

Last aspect of your e-mail is regarding not liking the local imam. Brother, in Islam, fitnah is haram, both the one who cause it and those who exploit it. As it has been narrated by Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him);

‘ I garuntee Paradise for the one who leaves argumentation even if he is on the truth’ ...in another narration he said,

‘Hold on to the Jamma’ah (unity) and do not go against the Leaders’.....

We, the Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jammah are known for holding onto unity and stopping those who cause disunity. This leadership could be either in Khilafah or in a Masjid. We need to be able to offer advice with sincerity and patience to those who are going error but using wisdom in order to safegaurd this unity within Muslims. This is how the deviant sects such as Khawarij appeard when they disunited the Muslims by fighting the leaders. So, my advice to you is;

1-      Before trying to advice someone, you need to know yourself whether what you are stopping is actual a known evil or just your concept

2-      If trying to stop this evil will bring a greater evil than its obligatory not to stop this evil because it will lead to a greater evil

3-      If you think that what he is doing is haram then let someone who has influence talk to him privatly

4-      If you do wish to approach him directly then do it in a manner which will attract him to listen to you and take your advice, not the opposite.

I make dua to Allah that He guides all of us to truth, rectify our state and forgive us our sins! Ameen and Allah Knows Best!!