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Date: 1913 Type: Synagogue Status: Extant Street: Hill Street   Click to view map Coordinates: 33°18'40.03" S 26°31'38.86" E

According to the Minute books of the Hebrew congregation in Grahamstown, building commenced in 1911. (Ref: Cory Library: MS 14 572) Rev A P Bender laid the foundation stone in 1913 - see photograph of Foundation Stone. The Grahamstown Journal carried a full-page report on the official opening of the Synagogue in 1914: "…..built by Messrs. Moore Bros., of Grahamstown, to the design of the late Mr. C.T.D. Lindsley, A.C.I.A., is a handsome structure ... Seating accommodation is provided for about 150 people. The dimensions of the main hall are 50 feet by 30 feet, and along the north, south and west walls run a paneled gallery supported on pitch pine columns. The inside of the roof is constructed on the cove system, a prominent feature of which is the large exposed Jarrah wood beams which form the main timbers of the roof work ...Circular windows light the gallery, and there are circular leaded windows below, all of which are glazed in a soft amber tint; while at the west end gable is a large segmental three light window, and at the east end a circular window ...All the entrance doors are oiled teak. Both externally and internally simplicity of design and exclusion of ornate detail have been observed throughout, but an altogether artistic effect has been obtained." (Ref: Grahamstown Journal 7 July 1914: pg. 5 col. 2.) [Submitted by William MARTINSON, from information supplied by Liz de Wet, Cory Library, Rhodes University, Grahamstown.] All truncated references not fully cited below are those of Joanna Walker's original text and cited in full in the 'Bibliography' entry of the Lexicon. Books that reference Synagogue Gledhill, Eily, Kearney, Brian & Peters, Walter. 1975. Grahamstown : a pilot study in conservation. Durban: University of Natal. pg 53