Sunderland Synagogue

Sunderland Synagogue

Synagogue of The Sunderland Hebrew Congregation, built in 1928 to the design of Newcastle-based architect Marcus Kenneth Glass. The building was altered by insertion of a Bimah in the centre of the prayer hall in 1968.

The synagogue is constructed of red brick with artificial stone dressings, terracotta tiles and turquoise mosaic, beneath a plain tile roof. It follows a rectangular basilica plan form with a basement, ground floor prayer hall with ancillary spaces, and a first floor ladies' gallery.

The west elevation, facing Ryhope Road, forms the principal façade and is dominated by a tall central round arch with brick chamfered sides and a stepped brick arch with lozenge patterning. Within this are two central round-headed doorways, each flanked by three octagonal painted stone half-columns with capitals and alternating brick and stone voussoirs. The paired double doors are panelled with large fanlights above containing stained glass with Magen David symbols. Above runs a mosaic band inscribed with the Hebrew liturgy Ma Tovu. A large 7-light round-headed window with tracery and stained glass containing a central Magen David sits above this. Above the main arch is a stone plaque bearing the Luhot, crowned by a broad segmental arch with stone parapet. Octagonal towers flank the composition, each with a single small round-headed window with blank fanlight at lower level and a similar tall round-headed window above with original metal casements. The towers terminate in bold stone parapets. To either side extend lower wings with chamfered ends decorated with zig-zag brickwork and plain stone bands to the parapet. The end façades of these wings each display a pair of basement windows with linking cill, above which are a pair of round-headed windows with blank fanlights and further plain windows above, all metal-framed. Side elevations incorporate a deep basement with stone band above and three tall plain pilasters between three windows. The basement contains pairs of windows with a central doorway and porch to the south, above which are three pairs of windows each with blank round-headed fanlights and three pairs of plain windows higher still. The rear (east) elevation is largely blank but features a large round-headed 7-light window.

The interior remains largely intact with original wooden doors and flooring throughout. The entrance lobby retains original doors and staircases with iron balustrades and wooden handrails providing access to the upper galleries where women were accommodated. The prayer hall is spanned by a deep barrel vault over the central aisle. Galleries run around three sides, carried on slender iron columns with palmate capitals, their panelled fronts bearing Magen David symbols. Several metal chandeliers incorporating Magen David symbols in their design hang from the ceiling. The east end of the prayer hall is raised by six steps and contains the Holy Ark, surmounted by a decorative painted and gilded plasterwork canopy with chevron-patterned columns and cushioned capitals. A central octagonal wooden desk with carved and painted decoration and blind round-arched arcade to the rear stands before it. All windows contain fine, brightly coloured stained glass with abstract patterns and Magen David symbols. A full complement of original dark oak pews with individual armrests furnishes both prayer hall and galleries. The basement room retains its original stage, original doors and iron columns supporting cross beams.

Two original entrances to the site are marked by paired brick gate piers to which are fixed double iron gates, each designed in the form of a Menorah.

The Sunderland Hebrew Congregation was founded in 1791 and formally established in 1821, serving what became the oldest Jewish community in the North East of England. From the 18th century, following migrations from Holland and Germany, the community had centred on a small house in Vine Street off the High Street, converted for worship. In 1861–2, a new synagogue was built on Moor Street to the design of J Tillman, serving the community concentrated in the east end of town. From the 1880s onwards, the busy shipping port received migrants from the Russian Empire escaping pogroms and poverty, and Sunderland became established as a centre of religious orthodoxy. After the First World War, as the Jewish population moved towards the wealthier western side of the city, a new synagogue was agreed necessary. The site at Ashburn Estate on Ryhope Road was purchased, and Marcus Kenneth Glass, known for a distinctive string of synagogues in similar cinematic style including Jesmond Synagogue, Newcastle (1915) and Clapton Federation Synagogue, London (1931–2), was appointed architect. His characteristic style employed colourful façades with corner towers, polychrome brickwork, Byzantine features and mosaics. The synagogue, which cost £11,000 to construct, was opened on 8 December 1928 by the Lord Mayor of Hull. An adjacent small detached school building was constructed and opened in December 1936. Originally the Ark, Bimah and Pulpit occupied a platform at the east end, but in 1968 the Bimah was relocated to the centre of the prayer hall and other furnishings were reordered accordingly. In recent years the Jewish community has dwindled from Sunderland, relocating to other cities including the large community at Gateshead.