the former

South-East London Synagogue

London SE14

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and congregations throughout the British Isles and Gibraltar, both past and present.

Sketch of the former South-East London Synagogue
New Cross Road, SE14

Congregation Data

Name:

South-East London Synagogue

known as South-East London District Synagogue from 1935 until 1976⁽ⁱⁱ⁾

Address:

New Cross Road (later referred to as 210 New Cross Road), New Cross, London SE14.⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾

The synagogue, in Romanesque style, was built on a plot of land on the Hatcham Estate, acquired under a long lease from the Haberdashers company. It was designed by the notable architect Delissa Joseph, FRIBA,^(iv) and consecrated by Chief Rabbi Dr. Hermann Adler on 12 March 1905.^(v)

In 1921/3, a number of building works took place at the synagogue, all designed and supervised by architect, Cecil Jacob Eprile, FRIBA.^(viii) In 1921, gates were added to the Aron Kodesh, commissioned by Lily Jacobs in memory of her parents, Harris and Sarah Koenigsberg, both of whom had died in 1921. Cecil Jacob Eprile was their grandson; his mother, Fanny, was Lily's sister, and gates were first opened by their brother Joseph.^(ix) The war memorial was erected at the synagogue in 1922 and the interior of the synagogue was completely renovated under the direction of Cecil Jacob Eprile and reopened in September 1923.^(x)

The synagogue was destroyed by German air raid on 27 December 1940 and the congregation moved temporarily to 117 Lewisham Way, London S.E.14.^(xi) It returned to the original site in 1946, initially to a prefabricated temporary hut, consecrated by Chief Rabbi Israel Brodie on 13 October 1946.^(xii)

In 1956 a new purpose-built Georgian-style synagogue, designed by Cecil Jacob Eprile, FRIBA, was erected on the site and this was consecrated by Chief Rabbi Brodie on 11 November 1956.^(xiii)

Earlier Address:

The congregation's previous synagogue, from 1889 until about 1903, was at Lausanne Road, Peckham, London SE15.^(xvi)

The Lausanne Road synagogue was an old iron hut (a Portakabin), consecrated by Rev. Dr. Hermann Adler, then the Delegate Chief Rabbi, on 7 April 1889.^(xvii) The hut was eventually condemned and from about 1903 until 1905, the congregation was in temporary premises at 36 Pepys Road, New Cross, pending the construction of its new synagogue.^(xviii)

Formation:

Services started in 1888, at the initiative of a Mr. and Mrs Franks, in their house at 452 New Cross Road, and then moved briefly to two rooms in Nettleton Road, New Cross, before the move to Lausanne Road.^(xix)

Final Status:

By 1985, membership had substantially diminished, there being only 56 male members, and the synagogue closed in 1985.^(xx)

In December 1985, the building was sold for £105,000 at auction by the United Synagogue to the Lewisham council, with the plan to convert it into a community centre. This plan was ultimately abandoned due to prohibitive costs. In the late 1980s, it was resold by the council to the London, New Cross Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses and the building became their Kingdom Hall.^(xxi)

Ritual:

Ashkenazi Orthodox

Affiliation:

Initially unaffiliated, in 1902 it became the first associate synagogue of the United Synagogue under its new associate synagogue scheme.^(xxii) In 1935 it become a district synagogue^(xxiii) and in about 1976, it became a constituent synagogue, when the district synagogue category was discontinued.^(xxiv)

Ministers:
(To view a short profile of a minister - hold the cursor over his name.)

Rev. Nehemiah Goldston - minister and secretary from 1889 until 1934.^(xxvii)

Rev. Harry Bornstein - minister and secretary from 1934 until 1938.^(xxviii)

Rev. Simeon Isaacs - minister from 1938 until 1946 (but on chaplaincy service from 1941).^(xxix)

Rev. Immanuel Jakobovits - temporary minister from 1944 until 1947.^(xxx)

Rev. Cecil Moses Bloch - minister and secretary from 1948 until about 1950.^(xxxi)

Rabbi Herc Melcer - minister from 1950 until about 1956.^(xxxiv)

Rev. Baruch Ben-Zion Greenberg - minister from 1957 until 1966.^(xxxv)

Rev. Abraham Bernstein - minister from 1967 until about 1972.^(xxxvi)

Chazanim / Readers:

Rev. A. Lewis - reader (chazan) from at least 1921 possibly until about 1940.^(xxxvii)

Rev. Ivan Binstock - part-time reader from 1972 until 1974.^(xxxviii)

Following the retirement of formal ministers, during the 1970s and early 1980s, Jack Ajgengold (also Aygengold), a Holocaust survivor who lived in the residential synagogue flat on the site, acted as a sort of "one-man band", performing the services of informal minister, lay reader, shammas (beadle) and caretaker, until the closure and sale of the synagogue. He assisted with the final handover of the property to Lewisham Council and the subsequent dispersal of the congregation to the Catford and Bromley Affiliated Synagogue.^(xxxix)

Lay Officers from 1896:

Unless otherwise stated, all data on lay officers has been extracted from listings in Jewish Year Books (first published 1896/7).^(xl)

Wardens

1896-1897 - J. Berlinski & B. Herr

1897-1898 - A. Frank

1898-1899 - A. Frank & M. Levy

1899-1902 - John Jacobs & Gustav Saling

1902-1905 - John Jacobs & Julius Meyerhein

1905-1908 - John Jacobs & S. Lancaster

1908-1910 - Gaskell Jacobs & S. Lancaster

1910-1913 - Gaskell Jacobs & M. Weinstock

1913-1919 - Gaskell E. Jacobs & Samuel Barnard

1919-1924 - Gaskell E. Jacobs & Herman Horne

1924-1934 - Gaskell E. Jacobs & Sidney Walters

1934-1938 - Sidney Walters & Samuel Shaw

1938-1939 - I.T. Dove

1939-1940 - Sidney Walters & I.T. Dove

1940-1945 - no data

1945-1950 - I.T. Dove & L. Jaffa

1951-1954 - Dr. I. Cohen & I.T. Dove

1954-1955 - Dr. I. Cohen & L. Rayfell

1955-1956 - Dr. I. Cohen & M. Walters

from 1956 - no data

President

1950-1951 - I.T. Dove

Treasurers

1896-1897 - B. Cohen

1897-1915 - Alfred Alvares

1915-1923 - Joseph Davis

1923-1933 - H. Harris

1933-1934 - L. Jaffa

1935-1938 - S.L. Charap

1938-1940 - L. Jaffa

1940-1945 - no data

1945-1948 - Dr. I. Cohen

Financial Representatives

1948-1950 - Dr. I. Cohen

1950-1955 - M. Walters

1955-1956 - J. Shaw

from 1956 - no data

Secretaries & Hon Secretaries
(from 1938)

1938-1940 - N. Castleton

1940-1945 - no data

1945-1948 - Mrs. S. Isaacs

1948-1950 - Rev. Cecil Moses Bloch

1955-1964 - J. Linden

1966-1981 - M. Tuck

1984-1985 - S. Mather

Membership Data:

Miscellaneous

1939 - 294^(xliv)

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

1950

1960

1970

183

196

181

National Reports & Surveys^(xlvi)

1977 - 125 male (or household) members and 69 female members

1983 - 68 male (or household) members and 66 female members

Local Government Districts:

New Cross, a district of southeast London, is in the London Borough of Lewisham, an Inner London Boroughs created on 1 April 1965, within the administrative area of Greater London. it was previously in in the former metropolitan borough of Deptford (established in 1900) within the former County of London (established in 1889).^(xlvii)

Peckham, about two miles to the west of New Cross, is in the London Borough of Southwark, i also an Inner London Boroughs created on 1 April 1965, and was previously in the former metropolitan borough of Camberwell (established in 1900) within the former County of London.^(xlviii)

Registration District (BMD):

New Cross - Lewisham since 1 July 1837 - Link to Register Office website

Peckham - Southwark since 1 April 1901 - Link to Register Office website

Cemetery
Information:

For United Synagogue cemeteries, see Cemeteries of the United Synagogue.

Selected Press Reports relating to the Congregation
(extracted by Steven Jaffe)

The Jewish Chronicle, 20 November 1981
Tucked in alongside New Cross bus garage is one of the United Synagogue's most attractive synagogue buildings. Yet it serves a community of only about 135 people, which is very much in the doldrums. At the moment, there is always a minyan on Shabbat mornings but only 15 or so members make up the congregation, with a few more present on the festivals. The synagogue was rebuilt in 1956, to replace the original building which was completely destroyed in the blitz. At the time of rebuilding, there were about 300 members. The minister was the late Rev. B. Greenberg, who left for llford in 1962. He was succeeded for a short time by the Rev. A. Bernstein, but for some 17 years[sic], South-East London has been without a minister. Without the work of 84-year old Jack Ajgengold, who is the acting minister, shammas and caretaker, and the active support of the honorary officers and board of management, the community would long ago have died. However, there are regular services and the synagogue is paying its way financially. Sam Wise, a member of the board of management, strongly believes that the United Synagogue could do much to help such synagogues as his. The US, he feels, could rationalise the membership of synagogues in the area and try to encourage members to attend synagogues close to their homes, and to transfer their membership accordingly. There are, for example, people living in Lewisham or Bromley who attend services at Streatham or Brixton who could transfer to South-East London. A number of traders from Petticoat Lane have recently moved into the Elephant and Castle area and a bid is to be made to try to recruit them as members of South-East London. There are hopes also, that when the dockland development scheme comes to fruition a number of Jewish people will move into the area and become members of the synagogue.
The Jewish Chronicle, 13 May 1988
Lewisham council, which bought the former South-East London Synagogue in New Cross two-and-a-half years ago, is to evict squatters from the premises and place the building back on the market. The synagogue, which was auctioned by the United Synagogue for £105,000, has been empty since it closed its doors in 1985. Most of the congregation transferred to Catford Synagogue. Lewisham councillor, Jon Lansman*, had hoped the 32-year-old building could be transformed into a community centre. But those plans were shelved because the scheme was too expensive. The building is now on sale for £150,000.
[*Subsequently a founder of left-wing pro-Jeremy Corbyn Labour Party faction "Momentum", but with whom he later became estranged.]

Other Organisations & Institutions
connected to this congregation

Educational

Hebrew & Religious Classes - founded by 1896^(liii)
The following are details of the number of pupils enrolled in the clases for the relevant years:^(liv)

1896

1899

1903

1905

1907

1910

1913

70

75

78

80

96

90

92

1914

1915

1917

1920

1921

1922

85

75

81

81

83

82

Other Institutions

Children's Orphan Aid Society - formed by 1899.^(lv)
Ladies Holy Vestments Society - formed by 1899.^(lvi)
South-East London Jewish Social Society - formed by 1909.^(lvii)
Benevolent Fund - active by 1920.^(lviii)
Ladies Guild - founded by 1923.^(lix)
Social and Literary Society - founded by 1946.^(lx)

Notes & Sources
(↵ returns to text above)

(i) Reserved.
(ii) This was the period during which the congregation was a district synagogue (it being known as South-East London Synagogue both before and after these dates) as listed in Jewish Year Books 1936 through 1976. ↵
(iii) The address listed in Jewish Year Books from 1905/6. ↵
(iv) Peter Renton's The Lost Synagogues of London (2000), p.110. To view a description of the Jewish architectural works by Delissa Joseph, hold your cursor over his name. ↵
(v) Jewish Chronicle report of 17 March 1905. ↵
(vi) and (vii) Reserved.
(viii) To view a description of the Jewish architectural works by Cecil Jacob Eprile, hold your cursor over his name.. ↵
(ix) Jewish Chronicle report of 30 December 1921. ↵
(x) Jewish Chronicle report of 14 September 1923. ↵
(xi) Peter Renton's The Lost Synagogues of London (2000), p.111. ↵
(xii) Jewish Chronicle report of 18 October 1946. ↵
(xiii) Jewish Chronicle report of 16 November 1956. ↵
(xiv) and (xv) Reserved.
(xvi) Peter Renton's The Lost Synagogues of London (2000), pp.109/10. The address listed in Jewish Year Books from the first edition (1896/7) through 1902/3) ↵
(xvii) Order of Service displayed in Peter Renton's The Lost Synagogues of London (2000), p.109. ↵
(xviii) Address listed in Jewish Year Books 1903/4 and 1904/5. ↵
(xix) Peter Renton's The Lost Synagogues of London (2000), p.109. ↵
(xx) Peter Renton's The Lost Synagogues of London (2000), pp.110/11. It was last listed in the Jewish Year Book 1985 ↵
(xxi) Jewish Chronicle report of 13 May 1988 and other press reports. ↵
(xxii) The United Synagogue 1870-1970 by Aubrey Newman (1977), pp. 74 and 223. The congregation was listed in Jewish Year Books as an associate synagogue from 1906/6 through 1935. ↵
(xxiii) The United Synagogue 1870-1970 by Aubrey Newman (1977), p. 221. The congregation listed in Jewish Year Books as a district synagogue from 1936 through 1976. ↵
(xxiv) The congregation was first listed as a constituent synagogue in the Jewish Year Book 1977. ↵
(xxv) and (xxvi) Reserved.
(xxvii) Rev. Goldston's Jewish Chronicle obituary of 3 November 1944. He was listed as reader and secretary of the congregation in Jewish Year Books from the first edition (1896/7) through 1898/9 and as minister and secretary from 1899/1900 through 1934 and emeritus minister thereafter. ↵
(xxviii) Jewish Chronicle of 6 July 1934 reported that Rev H. Bornstein, minister of the North-West London Synagogue, has been unanimously chosen by the selection committee as minister of the South-East London Synagogue to succeed the Rev N. Goldston, who is retiring in September. Jewish Chronicle of 6 May 1938 placed him at Hampstead Garden Suburb. He was listed as minister and secretary of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1935 through 1938. ↵
(xxix) Jewish Chronicle of 6 May 1938 reported the newly-elected minister of the congregation, the Rev. Simeon Isaacs, was inducted into office by Dayan Dr. A. Feldman. The service was conducted by the Rev. A. Lewis. Later, a Central Synagogue brochure of 1958, confirmed the appointment of "Rev. Simeon Isaacs, B.A., H.C.F., of the South-East London Synagogue" to that congregation in 1946. He was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1939, 1940, 1945/6 and 1947 (publication having been suspended in the intervening years). ↵
(xxx) He was listed as temporary minister of the congregation (jointly with minister Rev. Isaacs) in Jewish Year Books 1945/6 and 1947. The Jewish Chronicle of 25 July 1947 reported his move to the Great Synagogue. ↵
(xxxi) Jewish Chronicle of 14 May 1948 reported that the committee of the Swansea congregation had accepted the resignation of the Rev. C. M. Bloch, minister for one year, on his appointment to a London Congregation. Mr. Bloch will leave for his new post after Simchat Torah. Later reports that year placed Rev Bloch at South-East London Synagogue. He was listed as minister and secretary of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1949 and 1950. ↵
(xxxii) and (xxxiii) Reserved.
(xxxiv) Jewish Chronicle of 9 June 1950 reported that the appointment of Rabbi Melcer as minister to the South-East London District Synagogue was confirmed at the recent annual meeting. He was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1951 through 1956. ↵
(xxxv) Jewish Chronicle of 19 July 1957 reported the appointment of Rev. B. Greenberg, formerly of the Slough and Windsor Synagogue, as the new minister of the South-East London Synagogue. On 11 February 1966 it reported that The Rev. B. Greenberg, minister of the South-East London Synagogue, New Cross, is leaving to take up a ministerial appointment at Clayhall, one of the two new congregations to be set up in the Ilford area. He was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1959 through 1966. ↵
(xxxvi) Jewish Chronicle of 8 September 1967 reported that Rev. Abraham Bernstein, formerly minister of the Wolverhampton Congregation, had begun his duties on Friday as the new minister of the South-East London District Synagogue. No report has been found of his departure, although Rev Bernstein was chatan torah at the synagogue in 1971. The synagogue is stated not to have a resident minister from 1972 until its closure. He was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1968 through 1972. ↵
(xxxvii) Based on Rev. Lewis's listing as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1922 through 1940. ↵
(xxxviii) Various online biographies, including St. John's Wood Synagogue website, accessed April 2026. Rev. Binstock was not listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books. To view a short profile of Rev. Binstock, hold the cursor over his name. ↵
(xxxix) Jewish Chronicle report of 20 November 1981 and other press reports. ↵
(xl) Where a person was first listed in a Jewish Year Book as holding a particular office, it has been assumed that his term of office commenced in the year of publication of the relevant year book and that he continued in office until the commencement of office of his successor, unless the office was shown as vacant. Initially year books corresponded to the Hebrew year, and thus ran roughly from autumn of one year - the year of publication - until autumn of the next year. From 1909, year books were published according to the Gregorian year, being published generally towards the end of the year prior to the year appearing in the title of the year book. For example, if an officer is listed in Jewish Year Books 1919 through 1924, it is assumed that he commenced office in 1918 and continued in office until 1924. 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. Jewish Year Books were not published during WWII subsequent to 1940. There were no Jewish Year Book listings of officers (other than secretary) subsequent to 1956. ↵
(xli) to (xliii) Reserved.
(xliv) Peter Renton's The Lost Synagogues of London (2000), p.110. ↵
(xlv) The United Synagogue 1870-1970 by Aubrey Newman (1977), pages 216/7. ↵
(xlvi) 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. ↵
(xlvii) The London Borough of Lewisham was created on 1 April 1965 upon the merger of the metropolitan boroughs of Lewisham and Deptford. ↵
(xlviii) The London Borough of Southwark was created on 1 April 1965 upon the merger of the former metropolitan boroughs of Southwark, Bermondsey and Camberwell. ↵
(xlix) to (lii) Reserved.
(liii) Already listed in the first Jewish Year Book (1896/7) and probably founded on or shortly after the establishment of the congregation. ↵
(liv) Extracted from the Jewish Year Book immediately following the year listed. ↵
(lv) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1899/1900. ↵
(lvi) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1899/1900. ↵
(lvii) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1910. ↵
(lviii) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1921. ↵
(lix) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1924. ↵
(lx) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1947. ↵

List of United Synagogue Congregations

List of Synagogues
destroyed by German air raids during World War II

Jewish Congregations in the London Borough of Lewisham

Jewish Congregations in the London Borough of Southwark

Jewish Congregations in Greater London

Greater London home page

Page created: 20 September 2006
Data significantly expanded and notes first added: 17 April 2026
Page most recently amended: 5 May 2026

Research by David Shulman, assisted by Steven Jaffe (rabbinic profiles)
Formatting by David Shulman

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