The UK’s Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded a grant of £81,700 to the Leicester synagogue (Leicester Hebrew Congregation) to develop a “Sharing Jewish Heritage” project.
The Leicester Mercury reports that the grant will help fund an ongoing £1.2 million pound project that will celebrate Leicester’s rich Jewish heritage.
As part of the project, it reports, the Jewish school rooms in the synagogue complex will be transformed into a visitors’ centre for public and educational groups “responding to high demand for heritage visits.”
The red-brick synagogue, noted for its central tower, was designed by Arthur Wakerley and built in 1897.
Its future became uncertain when in 2011, because of a dwindling congregation, it was put up for sale.
As reported by the Jewish Chronicle, however, it was saved in 2013 when a Somali organization purchased the communal hall, and plans were put in action to transform part of the synagogue into a visitor and education centre.
The original plan had been to sell both the communal hall and the main synagogue, a listed building dating back to 1898, and relocate to one of the suburbs where most of the community resides.
“But on reviewing the state of the market, we decided to think again,” [community chairman Gary] Kramer explained.
“We are being actively supported by English Heritage to ensure that the shul is maintained for the congregation and for educational use for the wider community [such as visiting school groups]. Leicestershire County Council wants to see the heritage sustained for many years to come.”
To this end, an application for a six-figure grant has been made to the Heritage Lottery Fund for essential work to the synagogue and the adjoining schoolrooms.