Sukkat Shalom Reform Synagogue

Sukkat Shalom Reform Synagogue is a Reform Jewish congregation in Wanstead, in the London Borough of Redbridge, in the north-east of the capital. It is housed in a Victorian red-brick chapel that has had several lives, which makes it interesting for visitors who care about architecture and local history as well as for worshippers.

What is Sukkat Shalom?

Sukkat Shalom is a community belonging to the Movement for Reform Judaism. The name means "shelter of peace" and has been used since 1996. The congregation started much earlier, in 1981, as the Epping Forest & District Reform Synagogue. Around 1985 it became the Buckhurst Hill Reform Synagogue, and in 1996 it took its present name. Its first base was Bedford House in Buckhurst Hill, Essex, where it met until 1995.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The synagogue stands in Wanstead, on the eastern side of London, close to Epping Forest. The coordinates are roughly 51.585 N, 0.026 E. Wanstead is served by the Central line and by local buses, so the site is reachable from central London without a car. Check the congregation's own website before travelling, as access to a working place of worship depends on its programme.

What is the history of the building?

Around 1995 the congregation bought the site, including the chapel, a former hospital mortuary and the surrounding land, and then renovated it. The chapel dates from 1861 and was built as part of the Merchant Seamen's Orphan Asylum. Later the grounds belonged to Wanstead Hospital. The chapel is a Grade II* listed building, protected since 22 February 1979, which places it among the more significant listed buildings in England. The exterior of the former hospital also appeared in the opening credits of the comedy series Doctor in the House from 1969.

What happens there?

The congregation holds a service on Shabbat mornings. Once a month there is an Erev Shabbat service followed by a communal chavurah meal. Services are led by lay readers as well as by the rabbi. Festival services are sometimes shared with other local synagogues and with a twinned community in Juneau, Alaska.

Beyond worship, the community runs a Sunday-morning cheder for children and hosts a Lehrhaus adult-learning programme in partnership with Leo Baeck College. Interfaith work, a book club and a bridge club are also part of congregational life.

Can tourists visit?

It is first of all an active place of worship, not a museum. Visits are best arranged in advance with the congregation, particularly for the interior of the listed chapel. Respectful dress is expected, and security arrangements typical of Jewish institutions in the UK may apply.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Sukkat Shalom Synagogue? In Wanstead, in the London Borough of Redbridge, in north-east London.

Which movement does it belong to? It is a Reform Jewish congregation, part of the Movement for Reform Judaism.

When was the congregation founded? In 1981, originally as the Epping Forest & District Reform Synagogue.

Is the building historic? Yes. The chapel dates from 1861 and is Grade II* listed.

Is it a TV location? The exterior of the former hospital site featured in the opening credits of Doctor in the House from 1969.