The Wimbledon Synagogue

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The Wimbledon Synagogue
Wimbledon synagogue.png
The synagogue in 2019
Wandsworth London UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of the synagogue in the London Borough of Wandsworth
Religion
Affiliation Reform Judaism
Synagogue
Leadership
  • Rabbi: Adrian Schell
  • Chair: Julian Hunt
StatusActive
Location
Location1 Queensmere Road, Wimbledon Park, Borough of Wandsworth, London SW19 5QD
CountryEngland, United Kingdom
Coordinates 51°26′21″N0°13′25″W / 51.43917°N 0.22361°W / 51.43917; -0.22361
Architecture
Type University college (1953)
Established1949 (as a congregation)
Completed
  • 1952 (Worple Road)
  • 1997 (Queensmere Road)
Website
wimshul.org

The Wimbledon Synagogue, formally the Wimbledon and District Synagogue, is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 1 Queensmere Road, Wimbledon Park, in the Borough of Wandsworth, London, England, in the United Kingdom.

Contents

The congregation was established in 1949 and was based at Worple Road, Wimbledon from 1952 to 1997. [1] In 1997 it moved to its present premises, adapting a 1953 university college building which previously belonged to Southlands College, [2] now part of the University of Roehampton. The building also houses a nursery school, a branch of Keren's Nursery. [3] The congregation is a member of the Movement for Reform Judaism and is led by rabbi Adrian Schell. [4] In 2017, the congregation was described in The Jewish Chronicle as particularly welcoming. [5]

History

The logo of the congregation Wimbledon Synagogue logo.png
The logo of the congregation

The synagogue came into being at a meeting of the local Jewish community at the Wimbledon Hill Hotel in February 1949. In its first year the membership was 60 families. Services were held in temporary accommodation. The community decided to build a new synagogue on a site at 44 Worple Road in Wimbledon. The foundation stone was laid on 8 April 1951 by Ernest Abelson and Leonard Montefiore (of the West London Synagogue) and the synagogue was formally opened and dedicated on 25 May 1952 by Rabbi Dr Leo Baeck. [2] In September 1997 the synagogue moved to its present site, adapting the former Athlone Hall (dating from 1953). [2]

Notable rabbis

The synagogue's rabbis have included:

Facilities and activities

As of 2021 the synagogue had 850 members. [4]

The synagogue has three sets of stained glass windows. Their abstract designs were made by Graham Jones with Peters Glass Studio in Germany. [6] [7]

Social action

Wimbledon Synagogue is a Fairtrade synagogue and has been involved for many years with the Faith in Action Merton Homeless Project, a charity which works with a range of agencies to support homeless, precariously housed and other marginalised people within the London Borough of Merton. [8] It has also accommodated local homeless people overnight as part of the Merton Night Shelter initiative.

In the media

In 2010 Wimbledon Synagogue hosted the first ever broadcast of BBC Radio 4's Any Questions? from a synagogue. The programme's broadcast coincided with the 200th anniversary of the first Reform Judaism service. [9] [10] [11]

Notable members

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Wimbledon and District Synagogue". Jewish Communities and Records – UK. JewishGen. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "60 years of memories of Wimbledon & District Synagogue". www.jtrails.org.uk. 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  3. ↑ "Keren's Nursery Wimbledon". London Borough of Wandsworth. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Minister enjoys serving at Wimbledon". The Jewish Chronicle . 19 March 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  5. ↑ Wolfson, Rina (9 August 2017). "The Secret Shul-Goer No.5 – Wimbledon Reform". The Jewish Chronicle . Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  6. ↑ "Wimbledon Synagogue". Graham Jones. 3 December 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  7. ↑ "Wimbledon Synagogue, London". Andrew Moor Associates. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  8. ↑ "Wimbledon Synagogue support". Faith in Action Merton Homelessness Project. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  9. ↑ Elgot, Jessica (21 May 2010). "BBC to host first synagogue 'Any Questions'". The Jewish Chronicle . Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  10. ↑ "BBC Any Questions at Wimbledon". The Jewish Chronicle . 24 November 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  11. ↑ "Any Questions?". BBC Radio 4 . 16 July 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  12. ↑ Frick, Evelyn (11 June 2021). "18 Things to Know About Jewish Actor Brett Goldstein". Hey Alma. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  13. ↑ North, Nic (16 June 2022). "Stage star Thelma Ruby lowers the curtain on her sparkling 78-year career with a solo show". The Jewish Chronicle . Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  14. ↑ Angel, Mel (8 October 2024). "Diamonds are Wimbledon Synagogue's best friend!". Movement for Reform Judaism . Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  15. ↑ Reuben, Susan (11 May 2017). "Shooting in the dark". The Jewish Chronicle . Retrieved 16 July 2023.
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