Leaders from across the London Jewish community attended Sunday’s inauguration of the new Federation Cemetery in Edgware, the first the movement has opened since the 1930s.

Including purchase of the land, the development has cost in the region of £6 million. Addressing guests, its Beis Din head Rabbi Shraga Feivel Zimmerman said the cemetery’s opening was “a big step forward in our mission to serve the needs of our growing Orthodox community. I am proud to lead this dynamic organisation dedicated to promoting the importance of Torah as the solution to all of life’s challenges.”

Federation president Andrew Cohen described the inauguration as “an acknowledgement of our history and also of our destiny. We pledged to return the Federation to its status as a powerhouse of Orthodox Jewry.”

Burial society treasurer Menachem Gertner thanked those whose support had helped to make the project a reality.

As well as space for more than 7,000 burial plots, the new cemetery includes a purpose-built taharah facility, a coffin making workshop and a mikveh.

Jerusalem is a central focus with Jerusalem stone specially imported to clad the central spine of the ohel building, which is adorned by olive trees. All burial plots will face towards Jerusalem.

The Edgwarebury Lane site adds to the Federation’s existing burial grounds in Edmonton and Rainham, both of which still have “a good number of plots” available.

In addition, the Federation has acquired a section of the Eretz HaChaim Cemetery near Beit Shemesh for members wishing to be buried in Israel.