Fieldgate Street Great Synagogue

Fieldgate Street Great Synagogue stands at 41 Fieldgate Street in Whitechapel, east London. It is one of the most visible reminders of the Jewish community that filled the East End around Whitechapel and Spitalfields at the turn of the 20th century. Today the building serves a very different purpose from the one it was designed for, but it can still be viewed from the street and read as a chapter of the district's story.

How did the synagogue come to Fieldgate Street?

The congregation formed in the late 19th century, and the building went up in 1897-1899. Sources give slightly different dates, because smaller prayer houses had already operated on the street. Its Hebrew name was Sha'ar Ya'akov. The first president was Sir Samuel Montagu, a banker, philanthropist and politician, and a leading figure in founding the Federation of Synagogues, an umbrella body for many small East End congregations.

What happened to the building in the 20th century?

The synagogue was badly damaged during the Second World War bombing of London. It was rebuilt after the war, with works continuing into the 1950s according to surveys of the area. In the postwar years it absorbed members of smaller congregations that were closing nearby, including Vine Court and Alie Street. This reflected a wider shift: many Jewish families moved out of the East End to other parts of London.

Why is it no longer a working synagogue?

Regular services ended in 2007. In 2015 the building was bought by the East London Mosque, one of the main Muslim centres in this part of the city. A 2016 conversion by Makespace Architects removed the old interior furnishings and added a Zakat Centre shopfront facing the street. The building's fate illustrates how Whitechapel's population has changed: the same neighbourhood welcomed successive waves of newcomers, and their places of worship passed from one community to the next.

What should you know before visiting?

• Address: 41 Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel, London.
• Going inside: the building is used by its new owner and is not run as a museum, so treat it mainly as a stop to see from the street. Check access rules with the current operator.
• Surroundings: Whitechapel and Aldgate East stations are nearby, along with streets of the former Jewish East End, so it combines easily with a walk around the district.

Frequently asked questions

When was the synagogue built? Between 1897 and 1899.

Is it still a synagogue? No. Services ended in 2007, and the East London Mosque bought the building in 2015.

Who was its first president? Sir Samuel Montagu, who was also involved in founding the Federation of Synagogues.

Where exactly is it? At 41 Fieldgate Street in London's Whitechapel district.

Was it damaged in the war? Yes. It was badly damaged in the Second World War and later rebuilt.

Fieldgate Street Great Synagogue is a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in migration history, religious architecture and the changing face of east London. Even without going inside, it gives a sense of the scale of the former Jewish community of Whitechapel and of how a city reshapes its buildings along with its people.