Friern Hospital Synagogue

Name

Friern Hospital Synagogue

Address:

Friern Hospital, Colney Hatch, London N11. The hospital was one of the largest psychiatric hospitals in Britain and the only one with a kosher kitchen, and was situated within a mile of the Palmers Green and Southgate Synagogue.

Date Formed:

19 September 1957 (consecrated by Chief Rabbi Israel Brodie).

Status:

Closed 1991. (The hospital closed in 1993 and was converted into residential housing, known as Princess Park Manor.)

Ritual:

Ashkenazi Orthodox

Affiliation:

None

Chaplains to the Hosptal:
(To view a short profile of a chaplian - hold the cursor over his name.)

Among the Jewish chaplains that served the hospital were:

Rev. Solomon Lipson - chaplain to the County Asylums for 47 years, particularly Friern Hospital. Prior to the opening of the synagogue, Rev. Lipson conducted services in various parts of the hospital. He blew the shofar for residents on the High Holydays, arranged for the provision of treats on special occasions and at weekends devoted himself to interviewing relatives of patients. He retired in 1953 (aged 78) as Jewish chaplain to the Mental Health Service. On his retirement, he was presented with an illuminated address by the medical staff, the text of which read as follows:⁽ⁱⁱ⁾

"We the medical staff of Friern Hospital present this address to you as an expression of our appreciation of your devoted service to the whole hospital community for the past 47 years. We wish to record the high esteem in which we have always held you and the affection held by all of us who have known you and worked with you at Friern. It is with much regret that we see an old friend and valued colleague leave our staff, but we hope you will enjoy your well-earned retirement for many years."

Rev. Samuel Morris Bromberger  - full-time United Synagogue hospital chaplain, who was attached mainly to the Friern Hospital from 1955 until 1966.⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾

Rabbi Dr. Morris Ginsberg - post 1953.^(iv)

Rev. I. Stanley - post 1953.^(v)

Rev. Irving Chazen - chaplain for patients at mental hospitals on behalf of the United Synagogue Visitation Committee, from 1967 until his death in 1975. A Jewish club room at Friern Hospital was named the Chazen Room in his memory and which included a marble plaque, set in the wall, with the following inscription:^(vi)

"This plaque is consecrated to the everlasting and cherished memory of Rev. Irving Chazen, Jewish Chaplain to this hospital from 1967 to 1975, who passed away on 17th February 1975 - 6th Adar 5735."

Rev. J.L. Salzedo - chaplain to the hospital from 1975 until his death in 1983. As he was not in a position to conduct Sabbath services, such services were conducting by members of the Palmers Green Synagogue Friern Barnet Committee, which formed a roster of voluntary officiants.^(vii)

Rabbi Landy - chaplain to the hospital from 1983.

Jewish Patients:

The synagogue was for the hospital's patients.

In 1953, Rev. Lipson reported that there were over 600 Jewish patients.

In 1959, Rev. Bromberger reported that there were 545 Jewish patients of whom approximately 75 attended the synagogue on a regular basis.

Charitable Status:

No information as to the charitable status of the synagogue itself, although the hospital would almost certainly have been a registered charity.

Local Government District:

Colney Hatch, a residential suburb in Northwest London, is in the London Borough of Barnet and was (until 1965) in the former Friern Barnet Urban District in the former County of Middlesex.^(viii)

Registration District (BMD):

Barnet (since formation of Congregation)^(ix) - Link to Register Office website