PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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JEWISH SYNAGOGUE, PLYMOUTH The Jewish Synagogue is a Grade II* listed building situated in Catherine Street, at the rear of the Guildhall. It is the oldest Ashkenazi synagogue (i.e. those of central European origin) in the English-speaking world. Around the year 1740 some Hebrew families settled in Plymouth in Broad Hoe Lane. Although their Burial Ground was opened in 1748, it took another twenty years or so before they had a permanent place of worship. On April 27th 1762 the mayor and commonalty of Plymouth granted a lease to Mr Samuel Champion, a non-Jew, of a small parcel of land and some buildings in the vicinity of what was then St Catherine's Lane. In those days it was not legally certain that a Jew could hold land or property in England and so it was normal to put it in the name of a sympathetic non-Jew, to be held in trust. In Plymouth's case it was held in trust for Mr Joseph Jacob Sherrenbeck and Mr Gumpert Michael Emden, the local elders of the Jewish community. On September 3rd 1762 one (Mrs) Elizabeth Avent, of Plympton St Mary, loaned the community £300 upon security of a mortgage against the land and buildings. Work must have already started on the construction of the Synagogue because the deed stated that the money was loaned for its completion. There was a catch, however: the two men were required to enter into a penal bond committing them to paying back double the original amount if that sum was not repaid, with proper interest, within a year. The original foundation stone is preserved in the frontage of the present Synagogue and is dated 5522 in the Jewish Calendar, or 1761/62. Unfortunately the trustees were unable to pay back the original £300 within the twelve months and stood liable for the full £600. In 1770 the amount owed still stood at £336 and a new mortgage was raised in order to pay off Mrs Avent's executors. Mr Christopher Harris, of Plymstock, came to their rescue and agreed to advance them £22 on security of the Synagogue and a further £150 upon a bond signed by Messrs Lyon Homberg, Hyam Lazarus, Abraham Joseph, Henry Hart and nine other Jewish gentlemen. A large debt was still outstanding in 1780 even though over £500 had been paid off. This was only cleared when Mr Abraham Joseph personally settled the debt in full a couple of years later. On May 24th 1784 (4th of Sivan, 5584) the work on the Synagogue was completed. The lease was renewed in 1786 and again in 1797 and in 1805 the Synagogue was restored, an event which once again brought the Plymouth congregation into debt. Some seats for children were installed at the rear in 1811. In 1834 the freehold of the Synagogue was transferred from the mayor and commonalty to seven members of the congregation for the sum of £100. A Service of Consecration took place on Sunday February 21st 1864. The Plymouth Synagogue is of Georgian design, built of brick and with semi-circular headed windows and a pitched roof. It has a latticed women's' gallery, a beautifully carved wooden ark that might have been imported from Germany, an antique silver set of bells and eight large brass candlesticks. Various members of the Synagogue have donated the beautiful windows. It is said that a clue to the origins of the workmen employed on the building can be gleaned from the stained and polished pine benches where the joints are typical of those used by naval craftsmen of the time. On the night of March 20th-21st 1941, when the Synagogue was threatened with destruction like the rest of the City Centre, the sacred Torah scrolls were removed by the minister, the Reverend Wilfred Wolfson, and with the aid of a Mr Widdicombe, placed in an adjacent cellar for safety [1]. The Synagogue was refurbished by Mr J Godfrey-Gilbert in 1964-65. SEE ALSO Jewish Synagogue, Devonport. Principal Sources:
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