Lottery funding to transform synagogue into cultural hub

Brighton’s historic Middle Street Synagogue has received £112,740 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support a project aimed at eventually transforming the stunning building into a cultural centre for Brighton’s local community. The project, valued at £130,000 in total, will go towards survey work, repairs and outreach activities necessary to reach this goal. Middle Street Synagogue is situated within Brighton’s iconic Lanes area but has been closed for regular services for more than two decades. It was originally opened in 1875 and was modified frequently over the next 40 years. It is well known for its late 19th-century ornately detailed stained-glass windows. The building is listed at Grade II* by the National Heritage List for England, which is the second-highest ranking, accounting for only 5.8 per cent of England’s 370,000 listed buildings. Various entities are joining forces for the project, including the Board of the Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation, the Foundation for Jewish Heritage and the building’s owners. Susan Conway, chair of the congregation, said: “We are very grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for their continuing very generous support of this exciting project to preserve Middle Street Synagogue. We are also delighted to be continuing our partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Heritage." Michael Mail, CEO of the Foundation for Jewish Heritage, said: “The stunning Middle Street Synagogue is a hugely significant building, and we deeply appreciate the interest that the National Lottery has shown in our project to find a solution for the building, which is currently closed to the public. “We aim to preserve and reimagine the site to enable Middle Street synagogue to once again play a meaningful role in Brighton and the South Coast.” Their vision is for a hub of culture, education and heritage for both the local community and visitors, which can also be used for occasional religious services and weddings. On behalf of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, its director of London & South, Stuart McLeod, said: “Middle Street Synagogue is an extraordinary part of Brighton’s heritage, and we’re proud to continue to support the Foundation for Jewish Heritage find a fitting future for it. “Thanks to National Lottery players, this funding will help lay the foundations for its next lease of life to become a vibrant cultural and educational space for the whole community.” The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest dedicated funder of UK heritage. In 2023, it pledged to invest £3.6 billion in preservation over ten years.

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