Holy Law Synagogue and Hebrew School Bury Old Road Prestwich

MANCHESTER’S NEW SYNAGOGUE - A site has been secured for a new synagogue and Hebrew School at the Bury New Road end of Kings Road, Sedgley Park, Prestwich, and the building will go forward as soon as plans are passed. {Manchester Guardian 31 Aug 1931 page 5]

NEW SYNAGOGUE AT PRESTWICH, A MODERN DESIGN. Dr Hertz, the Chief Rabbi of the British Empire, will on Sunday open the new Synagogue of the Holy Law in Bury Old Road, Sedgley Park, Prestwich. The architect is Mr Theodor H Birks, a young Manchester architect of the modern school. He claims that though the building is an entirely new venture in synagogue design it remains in keeping with the traditional spirit. The external walls are faced with small grey bricks, and the only relief to the front elevation, which is an almost unbroken mass of brickwork, are the doors and a carved stone Shield of David. The windows are of a plain rough amber-tinted glass. The greatest departure, however, from traditional synagogue design is to be found inside in the position of the bema.  It is usual to have the bema in the middle of the synagogue, but in this case it has been placed at the east end together with the Ark. Consequently, all the highest and most elaborate decoration is at the east end, and attention is naturally focused on the Ark. The inside walls are of rough lime-washed plaster, and the doors, furnishings, and floor consist entirely of grey oak. The electric light fittings are made of bronze. All heavy panelling and cornices have been dispensed with. The seating capacity is nine hundred. [Manchester Guardian 10 September 1935 page 11]

Reference    Builder 8 June 1934 Page 1001
Reference    Builder 22 June 1934 Page 1093
Reference    Sharman Kadish: Jewish Heritage in England page 152
Reference    Manchester Guardian 31 August 1931 page 5
Reference    Manchester Guardian 10 September 1935 page 11- opening

Notes        See also Cummings for an apparently earlier scheme which was not progressed