Greenbank Synagogue - Liverpool

History

“The Greenbank Synagogue in Liverpool, a Grade II* listed building, acclaimed as the most architecturally significant inter-war synagogue in Europe, boasts a rich history rooted in the city's evolving Jewish community. Its origins trace back to an 1838 schism within the Liverpool Hebrew Congregation, which led to the formation of the New Hebrew Congregation, initially worshipping in temporary premises before settling in a purpose-built synagogue on Hope Place in 1857. As the Jewish population migrated from the city centre to the wealthier Sefton Park suburbs after World War I, the Hope Place congregation, joined by a smaller Sefton Park Hebrew Congregation, sought a new, larger home. The foundation stone for the magnificent Greenbank Drive Synagogue, designed by Sir Ernest Alfred Shennan in an innovative blend of Art Deco and Swedish National Romantic styles, was laid on June 14, 1936, and it was consecrated on August 15, 1937, with Professor Henry Cohen (later Lord Cohen of Birkenhead) opening its doors. During World War II, the synagogue served as a reception centre for bombed-out families and a social hub for American Jewish GIs. Despite a devastating fire in 1959 that destroyed the Ark and Torah scrolls, the building was meticulously restored and re-consecrated in 1961. However, a significant decline in membership led to its final closure on January 5, 2008. Since then, the synagogue has fallen into disrepair, becoming a target for vandalism, despite approval in 2017 for a redevelopment plan to convert it into apartments while preserving historical features; however, progress has been significantly stalled by ongoing lease negotiations with Liverpool City Council, leaving its future uncertain”.