Dalston Synagogue
Encyclopedia
The Dalston Synagogue was a Jewish place of worship
in Newington Green
, North London
, from about 1885 to 1970. It was also known as the Poets Road Synagogue and was not in Dalston
, another area of north-east London. This became one of the leading synagogues of London.
s of the Russian Empire
, and those beginning to leave the East End of London
and move northwards towards Stoke Newington
and Stamford Hill
, established a congregation in the neighbourhood by 1876. This formed a United Synagogue
, and its Victorian Gothic building was erected in Poets Road in 1885.
Jacob Koussevitzsky was its cantor
from 1936 (though another source says only the 1950s); his family, also transliterated
"Kusevitsky", is a significant one in Jewish music
.
At its height, the Poets Road Synagogue had hundreds of worshippers ; it closed in the late 1960s, as the remaining Jewish population moved on further afield. The synagogue site was eventually sold and the beautiful building, along with its stained glass
windows, was demolished in 1970 and replaced by a block of council flats, leaving no trace of the Jewish life which existed in this area.
, before moving on towards Stoke Newington
and the other side of Clissold Park
in the 1950s. From the mid seventeenth century, Newington Green had been known as an area tolerant of religious minorities, specifically Dissenters
, and the church on the green
reflected that. Its minister from 1947, John Reece Walker, was known as an interfaith worker, and "made a remarkable contribution to the cause of good relations between Christians and Jews in North London". Also on the green was the China Inland Mission
, founded in 1865 and its headquarters built in 1895. St Matthias
, one of London's foremost High Church
es, was built nearby from 1849–53, Pre-dating all of these is the impressive Anglican church in the parish of Stoke Newington
; it is dedicated to St Mary, as is the "new" (1858) church opposite, by Sir George Gilbert Scott
.
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
in Newington Green
Newington Green
Newington Green is an open space in north London which straddles the border between Islington and Hackney. It gives its name to the surrounding area, roughly bounded by Ball's Pond Road to the south, Petherton Road to the west, the southern section of Stoke Newington with Green Lanes-Matthias Road...
, North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
, from about 1885 to 1970. It was also known as the Poets Road Synagogue and was not in Dalston
Dalston
Dalston is a district of north-east London, England, located in the London Borough of Hackney. It is situated northeast of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, another area of north-east London. This became one of the leading synagogues of London.
History
Jews fleeing the pogromPogrom
A pogrom is a form of violent riot, a mob attack directed against a minority group, and characterized by killings and destruction of their homes and properties, businesses, and religious centres...
s of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, and those beginning to leave the East End of London
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
and move northwards towards Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington is a district in the London Borough of Hackney. It is north-east of Charing Cross.-Boundaries:In modern terms, Stoke Newington can be roughly defined by the N16 postcode area . Its southern boundary with Dalston is quite ill-defined too...
and Stamford Hill
Stamford Hill
Stamford Hill is a place in the north of the London Borough of Hackney, England, near the border with Haringey. It is home to Europe's largest Hasidic Jewish and Adeni Jewish community.Stamford Hill is NNE of Charing Cross.-History:...
, established a congregation in the neighbourhood by 1876. This formed a United Synagogue
United Synagogue
United Synagogue is an organisation of London Jews that was founded with the sanction of an Act of Parliament, in 1870. , it remains the largest religious grouping within the British Jewish community and indeed in Europe, covering 62 Orthodox Jewish communities...
, and its Victorian Gothic building was erected in Poets Road in 1885.
Jacob Koussevitzsky was its cantor
Hazzan
A hazzan or chazzan is a Jewish cantor, a musician trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer.There are many rules relating to how a cantor should lead services, but the idea of a cantor as a paid professional does not exist in classical rabbinic sources...
from 1936 (though another source says only the 1950s); his family, also transliterated
Transliteration
Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another...
"Kusevitsky", is a significant one in Jewish music
Jewish music
Jewish music is the music and melodies of the Jewish People which have evolved over time throughout the long course of Jewish History. In some instances Jewish Music is of a religious nature, spiritual songs and refrains are common in Jewish Services throughout the world, while other times, it is...
.
At its height, the Poets Road Synagogue had hundreds of worshippers ; it closed in the late 1960s, as the remaining Jewish population moved on further afield. The synagogue site was eventually sold and the beautiful building, along with its stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows, was demolished in 1970 and replaced by a block of council flats, leaving no trace of the Jewish life which existed in this area.
Religious neighbours
Other religious institutions existed nearby. The original Adath Israel orthodox congregation was founded in this area and its first permanent building was in Alma Road, off Green LanesGreen Lanes
Green Lanes, London, is a main road in North London and forms part of the A105. At approximately 7.5 miles from end to end, it is one of the longest streets in the capital....
, before moving on towards Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington is a district in the London Borough of Hackney. It is north-east of Charing Cross.-Boundaries:In modern terms, Stoke Newington can be roughly defined by the N16 postcode area . Its southern boundary with Dalston is quite ill-defined too...
and the other side of Clissold Park
Clissold Park
Clissold Park is a community park in Stoke Newington within the London Borough of Hackney. Facilities include a children's playground, sports fields, a bowling green, tennis courts, a cafe and some animal attractions including terrapins in its lakes...
in the 1950s. From the mid seventeenth century, Newington Green had been known as an area tolerant of religious minorities, specifically Dissenters
English Dissenters
English Dissenters were Christians who separated from the Church of England in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.They originally agitated for a wide reaching Protestant Reformation of the Established Church, and triumphed briefly under Oliver Cromwell....
, and the church on the green
Newington Green Unitarian Church
Newington Green Unitarian Church in north London is one of England's oldest Unitarian churches. It has had strong ties to political radicalism for over 300 years, and is London's oldest Nonconformist place of worship still in use...
reflected that. Its minister from 1947, John Reece Walker, was known as an interfaith worker, and "made a remarkable contribution to the cause of good relations between Christians and Jews in North London". Also on the green was the China Inland Mission
China Inland Mission
OMF International is an interdenominational Protestant Christian missionary society, founded in Britain by Hudson Taylor on 25 June 1865.-Overview:...
, founded in 1865 and its headquarters built in 1895. St Matthias
St Matthias Church (Stoke Newington)
St Matthias Church is an Anglican church in Stoke Newington, north London, England. It is named for St Matthias.-Formation:St Matthias, once one of London’s foremost High Churches, was built from 1849-53, partly with money from a rich doctor named Robert Brett, who thought that the Dissenting...
, one of London's foremost High Church
High church
The term "High Church" refers to beliefs and practices of ecclesiology, liturgy and theology, generally with an emphasis on formality, and resistance to "modernization." Although used in connection with various Christian traditions, the term has traditionally been principally associated with the...
es, was built nearby from 1849–53, Pre-dating all of these is the impressive Anglican church in the parish of Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington (parish)
Stoke Newington was an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex. It was both a civil parish, used for administrative purposes, and an ecclesiastical parish of the Church of England.-Civil parish:...
; it is dedicated to St Mary, as is the "new" (1858) church opposite, by Sir George Gilbert Scott
George Gilbert Scott
Sir George Gilbert Scott was an English architect of the Victorian Age, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches, cathedrals and workhouses...
.
Further reading
- The Village that Changed the World: A History of Newington Green London N16 by Alex Allardyce. Newington Green Action Group: 2008.
- Chapter titles: Beginnings, Kings and Treason; Dissenters, Academies and Castaways; The Chaste Old Bachelor of Newington Green; Enlightenment, Revolutions and Poets; Development, Destruction and Renewal.
- Peter Renton, The Lost Synagogues of London, Tymsder Publishers, 2000<
External links
- Dalston Synagogue on Jewish Communities and Records - UK (hosted by jewishgen.org), accessed 24 November 2010.