Bournemouth Community Hebrew Congregation

Art Nouveau
Moorish Revival

Date established1905 (as a congregation)Completed1911Websitebhcshul.co.uk

Historic site

Official nameThe Shul, Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation SynagogueTypeListed buildingDesignated30 January 2019Reference no.1452943 ^[1]^[2]

The Bournemouth Community Hebrew Congregation is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in Wootton Gardens, Lansdowne, Bournemouth, Dorset, England, in the United Kingdom. The congregation was formed in 1905 and worships in the Ashkenazi rite. The rabbi of the congregation is Adrian Jesner.

History

The congregation was formed in 1905.^[3] Albert Samuel, brother of Liberal politician Herbert Samuel, laid the cornerstone^[4] of the current synagogue, which was built in 1911.

The synagogue was listed as a Grade II building in 2019.^[2]

In February 2023 it was reported that the current synagogue building will be sold in order to move to smaller premises.^[5]^[6]

Architecture

The curvilinear roof line and window shape reveal what would have been a very contemporary Art Nouveau take on the Moorish Revival style that was extremely popular for synagogues.^[3] The squat tower with its square dome and "attractive interlocking window arcade" mark the original entrance. The horseshoe-arched windows to the left are also part of the original facade.

The new entrance, to the right of the tower, and barrel-vaulted interior with a ladies' gallery is the result of a 1957–62 expansion.^[3] The Torah Ark, also dating from the 1960s, is a mosaic design by craftsmen from Florence intended to echo the Temple of Solomon by featuring the Biblical columns Boaz and Jachin.^[3]

References

^ Shulman, David; Jaffe, Steven (21 September 2023). "Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation". Jewish Communities and Records – UK. JewishGen and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
^ ^a ^b Historic England. "The Shul, Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation Synagoguee (Grade II) (1452943)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Kadish, Sharmon (2006). Jewish Heritage in England: An Architectural Guide. English Heritage. pp. 80–81.
^ "A Brief History of the Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation". www.oldsynagogues.org. 13 March 2003. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
^ Ben-David, Daniel (2 February 2023). "Bournemouth synagogue is selling up after over a century in its building". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
^ "Synagogue in Bournemouth set for sale as congregation search for new premises". Bournemouth Echo. 6 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.