History of the Synagogue

In 1948 a few families founded Wembley & District Liberal Synagogue and established a small welcoming community. Numbers grew rapidly as newcomers enjoyed the benefits of communal Liberal Jewish life. A fundraising campaign purchased the Preston Lawn Tennis Club on Preston Road, Harrow, and a bid of £1,700 was sufficient to secure five hard courts, a putting green and a small wooden pavilion. At a further cost of £1,600 a brick hall with a seating capacity of 200 was built and a warm and welcoming community was created – a place of worship, a centre of learning and a meeting place for members of all ages. In 1965 a permanent synagogue was built and a major extension was added in 1978. In 2003 we embarked on a further phase of development, selling two-thirds of our site and investing in a new modern two storey building on the remaining one-third which was completed in 2004. In June 2011 the Preston Road site was sold and HWPS moved to Bessborough Road to share premises with Middlesex New Synagogue where we are very happy co-habitees with our downstairs neighbours.