South Portland Street Synagogue

South Portland Street Synagogue was a former Orthodox Jewish synagogue, that was at 85-89 South Portland Street in the Gorbals area of Glasgow, Scotland, in the United Kingdom.

South Portland Street Synagogue
Religion
Affiliation	Orthodox Judaism (former)
Rite	Nusach Ashkenaz
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Synagogue (1901–1974)
Status	Closed and demolished
Location
Location	85–89 South Portland Street, Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland
Country	United Kingdom
Approximate location of the former synagogue in Scotland
Geographic coordinates	55°51′14″N 4°15′23″W
Architecture
Architect(s)	James Chalmers
Type	Synagogue architecture
Style	Moorish Revival
Date established	1881 (as a congregation)
Completed	1901
Demolished	1974

From its establishment in 1901 until its closure in 1974, it was regarded as the centre of Jewish religious in Glasgow.^[1] The building, designed by James Chalmers,^[2] was known by several names during its lifespan including the South Side Synagogue, the Great Synagogue and the Great Central Synagogue.

History

On opening in 1901, the religious leaders of the congregation were Reverend Abraham Cantor and Reverend Isaac Bridge.^[3] At the time of opening, South Portland Street was the largest synagogue in Scotland, with seating for 1,000 people and the option for up to 1,600 people to access services in the Prayer Hall with the opening of folding doors.^[4]

The synagogue was in a union with Garnethill Synagogue from 1886/7 to 1898 and from 1896 until 1906 was part of the United Synagogue of Glasgow.^[5] In 1956, the building merged with the congregation of the New Central Synagogue in Hospital Street to form the Great Central Synagogue.^[2]

In the first decade of the 20th century the South Portland Street Synagogue purchased and operated a burial ground at Riddrie, immediately adjoining Riddrie Park Cemetery.

The synagogue was the longest-surviving synagogue in the Gorbals and was considered to be the last Jewish building in the area, and was the centre of traditional Jewish life until it closed in 1974.^[6]

Congregation

The congregation, who worshipped in the Ashkenazi rite, was formed in 1881 in response to the large numbers of Jewish immigrants who were moving to the Gorbals area. As a result of this immigration, a number of synagogues were established in the Gorbals, of which South Portland Street was the largest.^[4]

See also

• Judaism portal
• Scotland portal

• List of former synagogues in the United Kingdom
• List of Jewish communities in the United Kingdom
• History of the Jews in Scotland

References

1. Collins, Kenneth E. (2013). Jewish Glasgow: an illustrated history. Scottish Jewish Archives Centre. Glasgow. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-9513205-7-0. OCLC 870646186.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
2. "DSA Building/Design Report". Dictionary of Scottish Architects. 22 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
3. Kaplan, Harvey L. (2006). The Gorbals Jewish community in 1901. Scottish Jewish Archives Centre. Glasgow: Scottish Jewish Archives Centre. p. 18. ISBN 0-9513205-6-4. OCLC 70173000.
4. Collins, Dr Kenneth (1987). Aspects of Scottish Jewry. The Glasgow Jewish Representative Council. pp. 99–104. ISBN 0-9511853-0-6.
5. "JCR-UK: Great Central Synagogue (formerly known as Great Synagogue) Glasgow, Scotland". www.jewishgen.org. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
6. Collins, Kenneth E. (2016). The Jewish experience in Scotland : from immigration to integration. Neville Lamdan, Michael Tobias, Gillian Raab. Glasgow. ISBN 978-0-9513205-9-4. OCLC 966304927.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)