Greenbank Drive Synagogue
Exterior of the building in March 2019
Religion
Affiliation	Liverpool New Hebrew Congregation
Status	Closed in January 2008
Location
Location	Liverpool, England
Geographic coordinates	53°23′22″N 2°55′45″W / 53.38931008318103°N 2.929213866219369°W / 53.38931008318103; -2.929213866219369
Architecture
Type	Art Deco
Completed	1937 (1937)

Greenbank Drive Synagogue is a Grade II* listed building and former synagogue in the Sefton Park area of Liverpool, England. Constructed for the local Jewish congregation in 1937, the building has been described as the most important 20th-century synagogue in England in terms of architecture, as well as the finest surviving architectural example of a synagogue from the interwar period.

History

Pretext for the foundation of the synagogue can be traced back to a split within the Liverpool Hebrew Congregation in 1838. From this, the separate New Hebrew Congregation established its own synagogue, first on Hanover Street, then on Pilgrim Street, before finally constructing a purpose-built synagogue on Hope Place in 1857.

After World War I, the number of Jewish congregants living close to the synagogue began to decline as they moved outwards to live in Liverpool's wealthier suburbs. One such area was around Sefton Park, where Hebrew schools and a substantial Jewish congregation started to take shape. By 1928, the Hope Place Congregation made plans to relocate and build a larger synagogue to accommodate the growing community in Sefton Park. On 15 August 1937, the new synagogue, which had been built in the Art Deco style, was consecrated and opened to the public by Professor Henry Cohen, 1st Baron Cohen of Birkenhead, a member of the congregation.^[1]

In May 1959, a fire was started by a burglar which destroyed the Torah ark and its scrolls and damaged part of the roof's structure. At a cost of £50,000, the building was repaired and later re-consecrated in 1961. Another fire broke out in 1965, this time on the first two floors, but the damage was confined to the area.^[2]

On 5 January 2008, the building ceased activity and was closed. Around the same time, Historic England upgraded the building's listed status from Grade II (awarded in 1983) to the higher Grade II*. It has since been placed on Historic England's "Heritage at Risk" register.^[3] In 2017, approval was given for it to be renovated into a series of apartments.^[4]

02-07-2007

I wish Ingmar hadn't blurted out his lAst statement - I hadn't made up my mind whether to mention it or not - I not freaked Out I believe it to be quit normal - I just want to give you the "heads up" in case (c) started to talk about it. I had a disscusion with (c) about body pArts at the time but she was in her silly mood - more bit/sream this week but when (c) is good she's good (c) went to sleep in her own bed last night but then came back to our bed at around 3:00 A.M. - stayed awake - and kept me awake till about 6:00

OK - in order: (c) does try at times to exert an extreme degree of control over things, people situations. Sometimes she needs to be reminded she's the child + moved forward with a "this is how it is" "there are no options" approach. While she does tend to escalate a fight, she recovers remarkably well when you are firm + do not falter. So - nice work! You fought the dread battle + as time goes on it will be easier + you will meet less and less resistance. As to sexual behaviors, I have seen that from (c) last spring + over the summer but (c) kind of phased out of it. She never verbalized about it to me. Jenny can give better analysis as to "normal" or not. She has seen this from (c) also, though not recently. Good start at school, transitioned fine. Exercises, slow. Enjoyed snack. Washed blue off face. Playing bingo with words in L.S. class. To regular class, practicing reading with me. Lunch - extremely slow - about 45 minutes - finally got her to eat all of it. Another (TSS) gave (c) a present - sticker book about feelings. (c) is pleased! Going over charts with Jenny. Reviewing sight words, then to library. Fine. Back to L.S. Wrote #'s from 50 to 80. Then on to computer working on sight words. Earns computer break today, too. Good day!

References