Basic Site Details

Name: Graham Street Synagogue
City or county: Edinburgh
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status:  
Grid ref:
Notes: The adaptation and conversion of Greyfriars Free Church

EDINBURGH - The consecration of the new synagogue, Graham-street, by the Very Rev. Dr Adler, Chief Rabbi, from London, took place on Sunday week. With the £4,000 the Jewish congregation received from the corporation for their old synagogue in Park-place they purchased the new Greyfriars Free Church, Graham-street, for £2, 400, and the balance of the money has been expended in making the interior suitable for the purposes of Jewish worship. Formerly the pulpit stood at the west end of the church, and the seats were arranged accordingly; but the fact that the ark and the pulpit had to be at the east end necessitated an entire reconstruction of the interior. The centre of the design is a reading desk set on a platform in the centre of the area. It has brass rails. The pews slope upward from it on the north, south, and west sides. As no gallery is available for the ladies, space has accordingly been appropriated on the west side of the synagogue, raised, and inclosed with a light brass grill of Oriental pattern. It has a separate entrance. On the east side, on a raised dais and set close to the wall, is the ark. It takes the form of an Oriental baldachino, with pillars at the opening, and having overhead a golden dome and lantern. It is painted in cream, gold, and green colours. The synagogue is seated for 250 men and 130 women. The architect for the reconstruction was W. N. Thomson, Leith. [Building News 25 February 1898 p270]

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Synagogue  

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 1Graham StreetYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 118971898Alteration/conversionConversion from Church

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 1William Nicholas Thomson  18971898Conversion from church

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Kadish, Sharman2011The Synagogues of Britain and Ireland Newhaven & London: Yalep301
Item 2 of 2Kenna and Mooney1983People's Palaces  p133

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Builder26 February 2898  p213 - consecration
Item 2 of 2Building News25 February 1898  p270 - consecration