Where is Singers Hill Synagogue?

Singers Hill Synagogue is at Ellis Street, Birmingham, B1 1HL. But is on the corner of Blucher Street and Gough Street (near The Mailbox and Severn Street).

 

In brief

Singers Hill Synagogue is the home shul of the Birmingham Hebrew Congregation. A Grade II * listed building, built in 1856. Architect was Yeoville Thomason.

Singers Hill Synagogue (November 2008). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Singers Hill Synagogue - history

Built in 1856, to replace a previous synagogue on Severn Street. Which was built in 1827, this is now a Masonic Hall and survives to this day. The architect of the shul on Blucher Street was Yeoville Thomason (who later went on to design the Council House). Built of red brick with stone dressings. The stained glass windows mostly date to 1922 and later.

The men would sit on the ground floor, and the women upstairs. Although in recent years with the congregation getting smaller, the women now sit downstairs opposite the men (with a divider).

In the early years, people would live in houses near the synagogue, but as families moved further out into the City (and some away from Birmingham to other communities), the old houses were knocked down and it became a car park.

There is a community hall called the Joseph Cohen Hall, used for all kinds of community events. During the pandemic, this all went onto Zoom.

The community was led by the late Rabbi (previously Reverend) Leonard Tann (until his death in 2007). He was succeeded by Rabbi Yossi Jacobs, who still leads the congregation today.

Singers Hill Synagogue (November 2008). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Contact details

Birmingham Hebrew Congregation

Singers Hill Synagogue

Ellis Street

Birmingham

B1 1HL

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