the former

South-West London Synagogue

(formerly Wandsworth & Balham Synagogue)

Wandsworth Common, London SW11

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

The former South West London Synagogue, 104 Bolingbroke Road
Reproduced with kind permission of ©Leslie Bailey (March 2008)

Congregation Data

Name:

South-West London Synagogue (from 1976)⁽ⁱⁱ⁾

Former Names:

Wandsworth & Balham Synagogue, from 1913 until 1921⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾

South-West London Synagogue, from 1 May 1921 until 1927^(iv)

South-West London Associate Synagogue, from 1927 until 1935^(v)

South-West London District Synagogue, from 1935 until 1976^(vi)

Address:

The congregation's address was 104 Bolingbroke Grove, Wandsworth Common, London SW11 1DA.^(ix)

The site, comprising a Victorian house and garden, which appears to have belonged to the congregation's founder and first minister/reader, Rev. Isaac Ostroff, was acquire in 1914/5, and initially just given a facelift.^(x) In 1921 the congregation's High Holyday Festivals were held at the Battersea (Lower) Town Hall, Lavender-hill, Clapham Junction, and at the Balham Assembly Booms, Balham High Road.^(xi)

On 25 September 1927, the foundation stone was laid for a new synagogue, extending over the garden and a vacant plot of land facing Chivalry Road,^(xii) designed by architect Charles Living, Jnr.^(xiii) The synagogue's fixtures were acquired from the Borough Synagogue when it moved from its synagogue in Heygate Street.^(xiv) The original Victorian house was converted into a small hall once the 1927 purpose-built extension was completed.

Previously, from 1913, the congregation's address was 77 Bolingbroke Grove, Wandsworth Common, London SW11.^(xv)

Formation:

The congregation was formed in about 1913 upon the merger of
Wandsworth & Battersea Hebrew Congregation and Balham & Tooting Hebrew Congregation.^(xviii)

Predecessor Congregations:

Wandsworth & Battersea Hebrew Congregation

An unaffiliated congregation formed in about 1910, its address was 563 York Road, Wandsworth, SW11.^(xix)

Balham & Tooting Hebrew Congregation

An unaffiliated congregation formed in about 1908, its address, from at least 1910, was 47 Boundary Road, Balham, SW12.^(xx)

(Note: Balham and Tooting Hebrew Congregation was also the name of a congregation that existed in the 1930s and which merged into the New South London Synagogue.)

Closure:

Due to dwindling membership, the synagogue was closed and the congregation ceased activities in 1997.^(xxi)

The building was converted into private flats. However, a Star of David is still visible in a round window on the front of the building, and the former main hall is currently used as a photography studio.

Ritual:

Ashkenazi Orthodox

Affiliation:

Unaffiliated until joining the United Synagogue as an associate synagogue in 1927,^(xxiv) becoming a district synagogue in 1935.^(xxv) In about 1976, it became a constituent synagogue, when the district synagogue category was discontinued.^(xxvi)

Ministers & Readers:

Rev. Isaac Ostroff - reader/minister from 1913 until 1933.^(xxx)

Rev. Isaac L. Aarons - reader/minister from about 1933 until 1937.^(xxxi)

Rev. Michael Engelman - minister from about 1938 until at least 1940.^(xxxii)

Rabbi Morris Davidson - minister from 1944 until 1972, and then in a post-retirement part-time capacity until about 1978.^(xxxiii)

Lay Officers of the Predecessor Congregations:^(xxxvi)

Wandsworth & Battersea Hebrew
Congregation

President

1911-1913 - M. Danglowitz, Snr

Treasurer

1911-1913 - D. Bernstein

Hon. Secretaries

1911-1912 - M. Danglowitz, Jnr

1912-1913 - S. Goldman

Balham & Tooting Hebrew
Congregation

President

1912-1913 - Joseph Nathan

Hon. Secretaries

1908-1911 - M. Morris, Jnr

1911-1913 - J. Marks

Lay Officers of the Congregation:

Presidents

1913-1920 - M. Danglowitz

1920-1929 - J. Nathan

1929-1931 - S. Silverman

1931-1933 - M. Karsberg

1933-1935 - S. Silverman

Vice-Presidents

1920-1925 - J. Kleiner

1925-1926 - A. Gasson

1926-1927 - J. Kleiner

1927-1929 - M. Goldman

1929-1930 - J. Goodman

1930-1931 - M. Karlberg

1931-1933 - R. Clark

1933-1935 - A. Gasson

Treasurers

1913-1920 - M. Heller

1920-1924 - A. Hyman

1924-1925 - J. Landsberg

1925-1932 - A. Gasson

1932-1935 - J. Goodman

Financial Representatives

1935-1938 - S. Silverman

1938-1940 - Dr M.I. Cornick

1940-1945 - no data

1945-1950 - Dr M.I. Cornick

Chairman & Financial Representative

1950-1956 - Dr M.I. Cornick

Wardens

1929-1931 - J. Kleiner & D. Cedar

1931-1933 - J. Kleiner & M. Bridge

1933-1935 - M. Bridge & D. Cedar

1935-1936 - M. Bridge & E. Ostroff

1936-1937 - D. Cedar & E. Ostroff

1937-1938 - E. Ostroff & S. Polcher

1938-1939 - E. Ostroff & G. Karsberg

1939-1940 - G. Karsberg & S. Cowen

1940-1945 - no data

1945-1948 - S. Levin & S. May, BSc

1948-1953 - S. Levin & S. Ostroff

1953-1954 - I. Goldsmith & S. Ostroff

1954-1956 - S. Levin & S. Ostroff

from 1956 - no data

Secretaries & Hon. Secretaries

1913-1925 - Sydney Jacobs

1925-1938 - Judah Kutner

1938-1940 - Rev. Michael Engelman

1940-1944 - no data

1944-1972 - Rabbi Morris Davidson

1974-1981 - N.M. Young

1981-1984 - M. Stuart

1984-1992 - Mrs S. Isaacs

Administrator

1992-1997 - Mrs S. Isaacs

Membership Data:

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

1940

1950

1960

1970

144

233

230

173

National Reports & Surveys^(xxxviii)

1977 - 105 male (or household) members and 50 female members

1983 - 92 male (or household) members and 39 female members

1990 - 124 members (comprising 116 households and 8 individual female members)

1996 - 99 members (comprising 88 households, 1 individual male and 10 individual female members)

Local Government Districts:

Wandworth andBalham, neighbouring districts in south London, are situated in the London Borough of Wandsworth, established on 1 April 1965, within the administrative area of Greater London.^(xxxix)

Prior to 1965, both districts were in the former Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth, established in 1900 within the former County of London (established 1889).

Registration Districts (BMD):

Wandsworth from 1 July 1837 - Link to Register Office website

Cemetery
Information:

United Synagogue cemeteries, see Cemeteries of the United Synagogue.

Online Articles, Bibliography and Other Material
relating to this Congregation

on Third Party Websites

History of the South West London Synagogue on the UK Jewish Life website.

Notable Local Jewish Residents
or Members of this Former Congregation

Miriam Margolyes (b. 1941), left-wing British-Australian actress, lived for many years in near-by Clapham and was a frequent attendee at the synagogue, her father, Dr. Joseph Margolyes, being a prominent member.

Other Organisations & Institutions
connected to this congregation

Educational

Hebrew & Religious Classes - the classes were founded by Rev Isaac Ostroff in about 1913.^(xliii)
The following are details of the number of pupils enrolled in the clases for the relevant years:^(xliv)

1916

1919

1921

1923

39

80

85

90

However, a Jewish Chronicle report of prize distribution in 1922, reported that there were 95 pupils on the roll, 80 of whom attend at the Synagogue House, Bolingbroke Grove, and 15 at Elmfield Road Council School in Balham.^(xlv) Pupils came from a wide area - including Battersea, Balham, Tooting and Wandsworth, to attend the classes.^(xlvi)

Other Institutions

Ladies Guild - established by 1914.^(xlix)
Mutual Aid and Burial Society - established in about 1922.^(l)
Literary Society - established by 1923.^(li)

Notes & Sources
(↵ returns to text above)

(i) Reserved.
(ii) This was the name under which the congregation was listed from the Jewish Year Books from 1977 until the closure of the synagogue. ↵
(iii) This name was listed in Jewish Year Books from 1914 through 1921. ↵
(iv) The Jewish Chronicle of 6 May 1921 reported that on the holding of the annual meeting of the Wandsworth and Balham Synagogue the previous Sunday at which the name of the synagogue was altered to the South-West London Synagogue. This was the name listed in Jewish Year Books from 1922 through 1927. ↵
(v) This name was listed in Jewish Year Books from 1928 through 1935. ↵
(vi) This name was listed in Jewish Year Books from 1936 through 1976. ↵
(vii) and (viii) Reserved.
(ix) This was the address for the congregation listed in Jewish Year Books from 1915 until the closure of the synagogue. ↵
(x) Peter Renton's The Lost Synagogues of London (2000), p.142. ↵
(xi) Jewish Chronicle report of 23 September 1921. ↵
(xii) Peter Renton's The Lost Synagogues of London (2000), pp.142/143. ↵
(xiii) Sharman Kadish's Jewish Heritage in Britain and Ireland (2015), pp.68/9. To view a description of the Jewish architectural works by Charles Living Jnr., hold your cursor over his name. ↵
(xiv) Peter Renton's The Lost Synagogues of London (2000), pp.67 & 143. ↵
(xv) This was the address listed solely in the Jewish Year Book 1914, the first listing of the merged congregation. ↵
(xvi) and (xvii) Reserved.
(xviii) First listed of the merged congregation was in the Jewish Year Book 1914. Previously the predecessor congregations were listed separately. ↵
(xix) This congregation was listed with this name and address in Jewish Year Books 1911 through 1913. ↵
(xx) This congregation was listed, as the Balham & Tooting Congregation, in Jewish Year Books 1909 through 1913,with this address from 1911. ↵
(xxi) The Jewish Chronicle reported that a valedictory service for the synagogue was held on 30 March 1997. This congregation's final listing was in the Jewish Year Books 1997. ↵
(xxii) and (xxiii) Reserved.
(xxiv) The Jewish Chronicle of 25 June 1927 reported that the congregation had been enrolled as an Associate member of the United Synagogue. ↵
(xxv) The United Synagogue 1870-1970 by Aubrey Newman (1977), p. 221. ↵
(xxvi) Listed in Jewish Year Books as unaffiliated (1911-1927); associate synagogue (1928-1935); district synagogue (1935-1976) and constituent synagogue (1977-1997). ↵
(xxvii) to (xxix) Reserved.
(xxx) The Jewish Chronicle of 4 April 1913 reported that the Chairman of Kilburn and Brondesbury Talmud Torah said they might congratulate themselves that the Rev. I. Ostroff, who had been a very painstaking teacher at the Talmud Torah, had secured a position in Wandsworth. On 26 January 1934 it published a tombstone consecration notice which refers to the late Rev. Isaac Ostroff, minister of the South-West London Synagogue. He is listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1914 through 1933.. ↵
(xxxi) The Jewish Chronicle obituary of 13 August 1937. He is listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1934 through 1938. ↵
(xxxii) Based solely on Rev. M. Engelman'a listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1939 and 1940. Thereafter, publication was suspended until the end of World War II. ↵
(xxxiii) Jewish Chronicle obituary of 14 March 1986. Jewish Chronicle of 14 April 1944 reported that Rev. Morris Davidson had been appointed minister and secretary of the South-West London Synagogue. Rev. M. Davidson was listed as temporary minister of the congregation in the Jewish Year Book 1945/6 and then as minister from 1947 through 1976. ↵
(xxxiv) to (xxxv) Reserved.
(xxxvi) All Data on lay officers of the congregation and predecesor congregations extracted from Jewish Year Books. Where a person was first listed in a 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. 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 1934 through 1937, it is assumed that he commenced office in 1933 and continued in office until 1937. However, it should be noted that this is only an assumption and, accordingly, his actual years of office may differ somewhat from those shown here. Jewish Year Books were not published during World War II subsequent to 1940. There were no Jewish Year Book listings of officers (other than secretary) subsequent to 1956. ↵
(xxxvii) The United Synagogue 1870-1970 by Aubrey Newman (1977), pp. 216/7. ↵
(xxxviii) 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. ↵
(xxxix) The London Borough of Wandsworth, an Inner London Borough within the Greater London administrative area, was created on 1 April 1965 upon the merger of the former metropolitan borough of Battersea and most of the former metropolitan borough of Wandsworth (except the Clapham and Streatham areas), which had been within the former county of London. ↵
(xl) to (xlii) Reserved.
(xliii) Listed in the Jewish Year Book 1914. ↵
(xliv) Based upon Jewish Year Book listings. ↵
(xlv) Jewish Chronicle report of 3 February 1922. ↵
(xlvi) Jewish Chronicle report of 9 May 1930. ↵
(xlvii) and (xlviii) Reserved.
(xlix) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1915. ↵
(l) Jewish Chronicle report of 6 May 1921. ↵
(li) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1924. ↵

List of United Synagogue Congregations

Jewish Congregations in the London Borough of Wandsworth

Jewish Congregations in Greater London

Greater London home page

Page created: 22 October 2006
Data significantly expanded and notes first added: 18 March 2026
Page most recently amended: 22 March 2026

Research by David Shulman assisted by Steven Jaffe
Formatting by David Shulman

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