Dundee Synagogue

Dundee Synagogue is a former Jewish house of prayer on St Mary's Place in the centre of Dundee, Scotland. It is a modernist building from 1978 and a reminder of a community that shaped the city for well over a century. Today it is a place to see from the outside and to understand through its history.

What is Dundee Synagogue?

The building served as the place of worship of the Tayside and Fife Jewish Community from 1978 until 2019. The community itself is much older. It was established in 1878 as the Dundee Hebrew Congregation, which is the name it carried for most of its existence. The synagogue at St Mary's Place was the last home of that congregation in Dundee.

Who designed it and when was it built?

The modernist building was designed by the architect Ian Imlach and opened in 1978. One source describes it as the first purpose-built synagogue in Scotland outside Glasgow and Edinburgh. Its plain, geometric form stands apart from the older stone buildings of the city and is a good example of the 1970s approach to public architecture in Scottish towns.

Why was it built here?

The story of St Mary's Place begins with the earlier synagogue at 15 Meadow Street, where the congregation had gathered since 1920. Dundee council compulsorily acquired that site as part of the redevelopment of the city centre, and the old building was demolished in 1973. As compensation, the council provided the plot on St Mary's Place, where the new synagogue was then built.

Before Meadow Street, the community used several other addresses in the same part of town. Early meetings were held on Murraygate, including a stretch from 1895 to 1920 at number 62. Together these places trace the movement of Dundee's Jewish life through the city centre over almost a century and a half.

What happened to the synagogue?

The synagogue was formally closed on 7 June 2019. The Tayside and Fife Jewish Community moved its base of operations to St Andrews, in neighbouring Fife. The building at St Mary's Place therefore carries the word "former" today, but it remains one of the best-known traces of Jewish heritage in Dundee.

Visiting and what to look for

The synagogue is an exterior stop rather than a classic sightseeing attraction. It fits well into a walk through the city centre, especially if you are interested in:

• modernist architecture of the 1970s,
• the history of Jewish communities in Scotland,
• the redevelopment of Dundee's centre in the second half of the 20th century.

The building lies within walking distance of the main streets, so it is easy to combine with other city sights. Murraygate and the area of the former Meadow Street are nearby and help to follow the congregation's path on foot.

Frequently asked questions

Is Dundee Synagogue still open? No. Services ended with the closure on 7 June 2019, and the community now operates from St Andrews.

When was Dundee Synagogue built? The building on St Mary's Place was completed in 1978 to a design by Ian Imlach.

Why did the congregation leave Meadow Street? The council compulsorily acquired the Meadow Street site for city-centre redevelopment. The synagogue there was demolished in 1973, and the council provided the St Mary's Place plot as compensation.

When was the Jewish congregation in Dundee founded? In 1878, as the Dundee Hebrew Congregation. It later became the Tayside and Fife Jewish Community.