UK’s oldest synagogue fears for future if office blocks approved
Bevis Marks, in the City of London, says its survival is at stake if planners approve two office blocks which could leave them in total darkness.
Britain’s oldest synagogue fears an “existential threat” to its future if proposals to build two high-rise office blocks nearby are approved.
Bevis Marks, a Grade 1-listed building in the City of London, celebrates 320 years of regular services on Saturday, but its rabbi Shalom Morris says its future is at stake if nearby towers of up to 48 storeys are given the go-ahead.
Developers are proposing a 21-storey building in Creechurch Lane and a 48-floor tower in Bury Street, which the synagogue says would completely block out sunlight apart from one hour a day, making services impossible.
The synagogue is famous for being lit by up to 240 candles. These were supplemented in 1928 by limited electric lighting, which cannot be enhanced because the synagogue is a listed building.
“While each new development on its own is unacceptable, all of them together would be catastrophic. The very survival of our great synagogue as a place of worship is at stake,” said Rabbi Morris.
He added: “Not only will light be blocked, on which the building depends for ambiance, spirituality, and atmosphere, but the very foundations will be at risk.
“Yet the Jewish community’s British heritage is treated by the planners and developers as just another building.”
A decision on the planning applications is expected to be made on 5 October.
The synagogue was built in 1701 after Jews banished from England in 1290 were allowed back by Oliver Cromwell, and has survived the Blitz and IRA bombs. It is known as the home of the UK’s Spanish and Portuguese Jewish community.
But those involved in the synagogue fear it could soon be the end, criticising the City of London’s planning approach.
“Due to the pandemic, there’s already unfortunately a surplus of office space in the City so it doesn’t need another tower block,” said synagogue chair, Jonathan Solomons.
Former Lord Mayor of London, Sir Michael Bear. added that while he generally supported modern office buildings in the Square Mile, Bevis Marks had been neglected by planners.
“This is a total disregard for one of the only surviving examples of an intact Wren style City place of worship with original interior,” he said.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.