Severn Street Synagogue
Encyclopedia
The Severn Street Synagogue, built in 1813 as a synagogue
in Birmingham
, England, is now the Athol Masonic Hall.
The synagogue was badly damaged in a riot directed at non-Anglicans in 1813 that also severely damaged the Methodist Church in Belmont Row, Quaker Meetinghouse near Lady Well, and the Baptist
Chapel in Bond Street.
The synagogue was sold to the Freemasons in 1856 after the construction of the Singers Hill Synagogue
.
The adjacent banqueting hall, decorated with Stars of David, was added for the Freemasons by architect Henry Naden in 1871-2.
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England, is now the Athol Masonic Hall.
History
Severn Street was newly carved out of the former Gooch Estate when the synagogue was built in 1809.The synagogue was badly damaged in a riot directed at non-Anglicans in 1813 that also severely damaged the Methodist Church in Belmont Row, Quaker Meetinghouse near Lady Well, and the Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Chapel in Bond Street.
The synagogue was sold to the Freemasons in 1856 after the construction of the Singers Hill Synagogue
Singers Hill Synagogue
The Birmingham Hebrew Congregation Synagogue is a Grade II* listed building comprising 26, 26A and 26B Blucher Street in central Birmingham, England.Built in 1856, it was designed by Yeoville Thomason...
.
Architecture
The synagogue was rebuilt by architect Richard Tutin (1796–1832) in Greek Revival style 1825-1827. The Torah Ark was retained by the Freemasons with only slight modifications. It's handsome, fluted Doric columns and classical entablature remain. The Master's Chair is placed in the former Torah Ark niche.The adjacent banqueting hall, decorated with Stars of David, was added for the Freemasons by architect Henry Naden in 1871-2.
External links
- Birmingham's First Jewish Congregations (to 1856) on Jewish Communities and Records - UK (hosted by jewishgen.org).