Name:

Liverpool Old Hebrew Congregation
(also known as Princes Road Synagogue)

Former Names:

Liverpool Hebrew Congregation (until about 1840), then also known as
Seel Street Synagogue

Address:

Princes Road, Liverpool L8 1TG
(Synagogue consecrated in 1874, reconstructed 1952 and refurbished in 1979/80 following an arson attack)

The synagogue was designated a Grade I Listed Building (number 1072969) on 14 March 1975 (most recent amendment 3 October 1997). View description on Historic England website.

Former Addresses:

Seel Street, Liverpool (1807/8-1874)

133 Upper Frederick Street, Liverpool (1789-1807/8)

Turnton Court, near Customs House, Liverpool (1780-1789)

The was an earlier synagogue in Cumberland Street, Liverpool in 1853, of which no further information is currently available.

Current Status:

Active

Date Founded:

Congregation formed in about 1780.  By 1806, the congregation had acquired the synagogue in Seel Street (on land received as a gift from the Liverpool municipality) and the synagogue was erected in 1807/8. In about 1836, a split developed in the congregation, which led to the establishment of the breakaway Liverpool New Hebrew Congregation in 1842.

Ritual:

Orthodox - Ashkenazi

Affiliation:

A provincial synagogue under the aegis of the Chief Rabbi.

Official Wesite:

http://www.princesroad.org

Minister:

Rabbi Ariel Abel - current (January 2016)

Marriage Certification:

Worship Number: 70731
Registration District: Liverpool

Membership Data:

1845 - 48 ba'ale batim and 131 seatholders (Chief Rabbi's Questionnaire)

1851 - 250 appropriated seats (The Rise of Provincial Jewry by C. Roth, 1950.)

1852 - 116 seatholders (Board of Deputies return)

1860 - 108 seatholders (Board of Deputies return)

1870 - 167 seatholders (Board of Deputies return)

1880 - 304 seatholders (Board of Deputies return)

1890 - 387 seatholders (Board of Deputies return)

1896 - 410 seatholders (Jewish Year Book 1896-7)

1900 - 410 seatholders (Jewish Year Book 1896-7); 395 (Board of Deputies return)

1938 - 399 seatholders (Jewish Year Book 1939)

1999 - 250  (Board of Deputies)

2016 - 200 families  (Synagogue's website)

Cemetery Information:

From 1789 until the present, the Congregation has used for successive burial grounds (two of which are no longer extants). For details see Liverpool Jewish Cemeteries Information on Liverpool Jewish Community home page.