Central Synagogue

Great Portland Street, London W.1.

Created: 11 January 2004
Latest revision or update: 18 August 2009

Congregation Data

Official Name:

Central Synagogue

Alternative Name:

Great Portland Street Synagogue

Address:

(133-141 Great Portland Street) 38-40 Hallam Street, London WIW 6NW. (The foundation stone was laid by Baron Lionel de Rothschild M.P. on 18 March 1869, and the building consecrated by Chief Rabbi Rev. Dr. N. M. Adler on 7 April 1870.) The synagogue building was destroyed by in a German air raid in 10 May 1941, and temporary synagogue was built and used until 1956, when the present building was constructed and for,ally opened in 1958.
From March 1855 to 1870, at 120 Great Portland Street (a former warehouse).
Prior to 1855, the congregation met in Wigmore Street, London W1.

Local Authority:

London Borough of the City of Westminster - (Congregations in the locality)

Current Status:

Active

Date Formed:

About 1850. Synagogue formed as a branch of the Great Synagogue, and remained a branch until the founding of the United Synagogue in 1870.

Ritual:

Ashkenazi Orthodox

Affiliation:

One of the original five synagogues that formed the United Synagogue in 1870, of which it remains a constituent member. (List of United Synagogue congregations)

Website:

http://www.brijnet.org/centralsyn/

Membership Data:

Number of male seat holders (United Synagogue 1870-1970)

1870	1880	1890	1900	1910	1920	1930	1940	1950	1960	1970
260	380	334	355	380	353	374	351	467	685	657

Other Information

Records
Congregation History
Photographs
Newspaper Articles and Personal Encounters
Bibliography:
- A History of the Central Synagogue. Shine, Rabbi C.I. 1970 (The Central Synagogue)
- The Synagogues of London. Lindsay, P., 1993 (Valentine Mitchell, London) pp. 70-73
- other City of Westminster sources
- other London sources
Cemetery Information:
- Cemeteries of the United Synagogue

Greater London Community

Explanation of Terms Used

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