Canterbury’s ‘celebrity’ Jews to be given blue plaques in heart of Church of England

Alan, who studied history at Oxford University, told the JC that he loves to “learn from the past, and I find it inspirational what these people have contributed to humanity and society”.

Jacob the Jew was involved in stumping up the ransom for King Richard the Lionheart when the monarch was captured and imprisoned by the French during the Crusades.

“We’re very excited about the fact that this is honouring the medieval Jewish community,” Alan said.

The ABode hotel, formerly Jacob the Jew's stone house (photo: Alan Barnett)[Missing Credit]

Isaac Nathan was behind the first opera written, composed, and produced in Australia after he moved there in 1841, as well as being director of music at both a cathedral and a synagogue in Sydney.

He was “ahead of his time”, Alan said, as he interwove Aboriginal tunes into his music, and he also became “a huge advocate for free music education for children”. Two of Isaac’s direct descendants have backed Alan’s plans to install the plaque.

Alan, who is currently mapping the city’s ancient Jewish cemetery, said he was inspired by the sentiment in JC columnist Melanie Phillips’ recent book The Builder’s Stone.

“She thinks Jews have gained so much by understanding their past,” he said. 

The blue plaques are set to be placed at Jacob’s stone house, which is now the ABode Hotel, and on the building adjacent to Isaac’s birthplace, which is now a level crossing.

The level crossing at the site of Isaac Nathan's birthplace (photo: Alan Barnett)[Missing Credit]

Alan is hoping that the Archbishop of Canterbury will attend a ceremony for the unveiling of the plaques.

In the meantime, he has also set up Sababa, a social group for Canterbury’s small Jewish community, along with friends Graham Redman, Relly Bowman, and Riki Samuel.

“I always considered myself a typical secular Jew, who was proud of my heritage,” Alan explained. “But when everything kicked off on October 7, I thought I had to do something.”

They are now a network of around 30 people, who come together monthly and find support in each other at a “concerning” time, Alan said. “We started in a very reactive way, but it’s now become more proactive.

“We’re trying to make a difference in Canterbury and we’re very excited.”