The Liberal Jewish Synagogue - St John's Wood Road, London, UK
N 51° 31.696 W 000° 10.359
30U E 696114 N 5712362
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, founded in 1911, is the oldest and largest of more than thirty congregations belonging to Liberal Judaism. This one is located opposite Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood Road.
Waymark Code: WMEZZ1
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 07/30/2012
Views: 5
The building is set bacl from the road and has six columns
along its frontage which is made from Portland stone that is in excellent, clean
condition.
The synagogue's website (visit link)
tells us about the building:
"The LJS was founded in 1911, by the Committee of The
Jewish Religious Union, as the first Liberal congregation. By 1912 premises had
been acquired in a former chapel in Hill Street, Park Road. By 1918 it was
evident that a larger building was needed, a site was purchased in 1924 at the
present location in St. John's Wood, and an imposing synagogue seating 1,350 and
communal hall, designed by Ernest M. Joseph, Honorary architect to the ULPS and
founder member of the LJS, was opened in 1925, and consequently membership
increased further.
That building was seriously damaged by an enemy bomb in
1940. Although it was repaired by 1950 and used until 1988, serious structural
defects prompted the synagogue Council to undertake a major re-building project.
The building was demolished, only the original portico (six ionic columns,
donated by Bernhard Baron in 1924) being retained, the right to build flats
above was purchased by a developer, and the present building was opened in 1991.
The interior of the congregational premises was designed by Israeli architects
Kantor Schwartz; the beautiful sanctuary is lined with Jerusalem stone and the
Ark doors are a mesh of metals set in frames of bronze."