Harold Hill and District Affiliated Synagogue

Harold Hill and District Affiliated Synagogue

Trowbridge Road, Harold Hill, Essex RM3 8YW

In use as a synagogue from 1958, when a prefabricated building was erected on the site.⁽ⁱⁱ⁾ In 1962, the side walls of the synagogue were rebuilt in brick, making the building a permanent structure.⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾

Until 1958, services were held in hired premises.⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾

Established in 1953^(iv)

Closed in about July 2015, due to dwindling number.^(v)

Ashkenazi Orthodox

An affiliated synagogue of the United Synagogue from joining the organisation in 1953.^(vi)

None^(x)

President - M.L. Nossek

Treasurer - G.I. Pollak

1954-1955 - I. Slater

1955-1961 - H. Reuben

1961-1984 - L. Bernstein

1984-2015 - Miss D. Meid

United Synagogue (male seat-holders)^(xiii)

1953	1960	1970
78	99	77

Reports & Surveys^(xiv)

1977 - 71 male (or household) members and 21 female members

1983 - 62 male (or household) members and 22 female members

1990 - 83 members (households)

1996 - 85 members (comprising 82 households and 3 individual male members)

2010 - listed as having 50 to 99 members (by household)

The Northeast London suburb of Harold Hill is in the London Borough of Havering (created on 1 April 1965) within the administrative area of Greater London. It was previously in the former Romford Municipal Borough (incorporated as a borough in 1937) in the County of Essex.^(xv)

Havering^(xvi) - Link to Register Office website

Cemetery Information:

See IAJGS Cemeteries Project: Cemeteries of the United Synagogue

Notes & Sources (↵ returns to text above)

• (i) Reserved.

• (ii) On 10 January 1958 The Jewish Chronical reported: "A new synagogue has been opened in Trowbridge Road, Harold Hill, Essex. The actual structure is a prefabricated one, which was previously used by the South-East London Synagogue and further funds will be needed to furnish it fully. At the recent opening, when prizes were distributed to pupils of the Hebrew classes, about 250 people were present. The single-storey building will be used as classrooms and also ...[by]... the Maccabi Youth Club and the Ladies Guild. Membership of the Harold Hill Synagogue at present is 105 families." [Note: this figure is somewhat variance with other membership figures - see Membership Data section.] ↵

• (iii) We are grateful to the Havering Libraries - Local Studies for providing this information about the building of the synagogue. ↵

• (iv) Statement in Jewish Year Books from 1954 ↵

• (v) The Jewish Chronicle report of 23 July 2015, entitled "It's closing time for Harold Hill". ↵

• (vi) The United Synagogue 1870-1970 by A. Newman (1977), p.222. ↵

• (vii) to (ix) Reserved.

• (x) There were never any ministers listed for the congregation in any Jewish Year Books. ↵

• (xi) As listed in Jewish Year Books 1955 (the first appearance of the congregation) and 1955. From 1957, officers of congregation, other than the secretary, were generally no longer listed. ↵

• (xii) Extracted from Jewish Year Books. Where an hon. secretary is first listed, it has been assumed that his or her term of office commenced in the year of publication of the relevant year book (which was generally towards the end of the year prior to year appearing the the title of the year book) and that he or she continued in office until the commencement of office of his successor. However, it should be noted that this is only an assumption and accordingly his actual years of office may differ slightly from those shown here. ↵

• (xiii) The United Synagogue 1870-1970 by A. Newman (1977), p.220. ↵

• (xiv) Reports on synagogue membership in the United Kingdom, published by or on behalf of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and which can be viewed on the website of the Institute of Jewish Policy Research. Click HERE for links to the various reports. 167. ↵

• (xv) The London Borough of Havering, an Outer London Borough within the Greater London administrative area, was created on 1 April 1965 upon the merger of the Urban District of Hornchurch with Municipal Borough of Romford. All areas had previously been within the County of Essex. ↵

• (xvi) The former Registration District was Romford, from the formation of the Congregation until 1 April 1965. All registers would now be held by the current register office. ↵