The magnificent Princes Road synagogue in Liverpool is turning 150 years old, and a six-month “Heritage Season” to mark the occasion kicks off on Sunday (Sept. 8) with a gala civic event including a concert and speeches by Liverpool’s mayor, the UK Chief Rabbi and other dignitaries.
Built in 1874 of red sandstone and unpressed brick, the synagogue, a Grade I listed building, was designed by Liverpool’s William and George Audsley, two Scottish Presbysterian brothers with no previous experience of building synagogues. Five years later the Audsleys’ firm designed London’s sumptuous New West End synagogue, which opened in 1879. (The brothers moved to the United States in 1892 and continued work there, but did not design other synagogues.)
In 2015, Historic England ranked Princes Road — and the New West End — as among England’s 10 most beautiful synagogues, calling Princes Road the “most lavish High Victorian Oriental synagogue in England” whose “gorgeous mint green, stenciled and gilded décor contrasts with the rich jewel colours of the domed and turreted Ark.”
Princess Road is home to Liverpool Old Hebrew Congregation, the oldest surviving Jewish congregation in the city, founded around 1780.
The synagogue’s Heritage Season will comprise ceremonial events, concerts, lectures, meals, performances, talks, guided tours, and walks from now until the last week of February.
Most will be hosted at the synagogue itself, but some are at other venues. They include tours of the city’s Jewish cemeteries and other Jewish historical sites as well as a day trip to the Jewish Museum in Manchester.
The details of the latter part of the program are still evolving — click here to see a chart of the program with latest details.
Watch a promo video about the anniversary celebrations:
1 comment on “UK: Six-month “Heritage Season” kicks off, marking the 150th anniversary of Liverpool’s magnificent Princes Road synagogue”
Wonderful! Very fond memories of attending services at Princes Road in the late 50s and 60s. We lived in Chester and with only a very small local synagogue, and then none at all, we were welcomed as ‘country’ members of Princes Road.We used to attend the synagogue for all the major festivals. Long may it survive.