Greenbank Drive Synagogue
| Greenbank Drive Synagogue | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Liverpool New Hebrew Congregation |
| Status | Closed |
| Location | |
| Location | Liverpool, England |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Art Deco |
| Completed | 1937 |
Greenbank Drive Synagogue is a Grade II* Listed building located in Liverpool, England. Constructed for the local Jewish congregation in 1937 the Art Deco styled building has been described by developers as architecturally the most important and innovatory 20th century synagogue in England as well as the finest surviving inter-war example.
Since its closure in 2008 the building has been placed on Historic England's Heritage at Risk register.[1] In 2017 approval was given for the building to be renovated into a series of apartments.[2]
History
Pretext for the foundation of the synagogue can be traced back to a split within The Liverpool Hebrew Congregation in 1838. From this the separate New Hebrew Congregation established its own synagogue, first on Hanover Street then on Pilgrim Street before constructing a purpose-built synagogue on Hope Place in 1857.
After the First World War the number of Jewish congregants living close to the synagogue began to decline as they moved outwards to live in one of Liverpool's wealthy suburbs. One such area was around Sefton where Hebrew schools and a substantial Jewish congregation started to take shape. By 1928 the now named Hope Place Congregation made plans to relocate closer by and build a larger synagogue to accommodate the growing community. On 15 August 1937 the new synagogue was consecrated and opened to the public by Professor Henry Cohen (a member of the congregation and later Lord Cohen of Birkenhead).[3]
In May 1959 a fire was started by a burglar which destroyed the ark and Torah scrolls and damaged part of the roof's structure. At a cost of £50,000 the building was repaired and later re-consecrated in 1961. A few years later in 1965 another fire broke out this time on the first two floors; however, damage was confined to the area.[4] On 5 January 2008 the building ceased activity and was closed. Around the same time Historic England upgraded its status from Grade II listed (awarded in 1983) to the higher Grade II*.
References
- ^ "Greenbank Drive Synagogue, Greenbank Drive, Sefton Park - Liverpool". Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ "Synagogue conversion set for summer start". Place North West. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ "Greenbank Drive Synagogue". Historic England. 25 June 2020.
- ^ Bennett, John (19 May 2019). "Abandoned Liverpool: the empty buildings of our city, what's inside and what they once were". Retrieved 25 June 2020.