Wales' oldest surviving synagogue, the Merthyr Tydfil Synagogue, which has stood abandoned for two decades, is set to be transformed thanks to nearly £4 million in funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Grade II-listed building, built in 1876, will become Wales' national centre for Jewish history.
Historic Building Saved from Decline
The synagogue, located on Bryntirion Hill in Merthyr Tydfil, is considered one of the most architecturally important synagogues in the UK. Built in a heavy Northern Gothic style with sand-coloured stone and gothic turrets, it features a Welsh dragon on its gable. It closed as a synagogue in 1983 due to a dwindling congregation, later served as a Christian centre and then a fitness centre for 20 years, during which its historic interior was lost. The building closed its doors for good in 2004.
£3.9 Million Funding for Restoration
The Foundation for Jewish Heritage purchased the building in 2019. The successful bid for £3.9 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will enable full restoration, creating jobs, volunteering opportunities, and community activities. Plans include restoring the prayer hall, creating a permanent exhibition on Welsh Jewish heritage, and hosting events such as talks, performances, tours, festivals, workshops, and celebrations of major Jewish festivals. An artist will work with the local community to create new stained glass for the synagogue.
Community and Cultural Impact
David Bearman of the Welsh Jewish Cultural Centre expressed delight at the funding, stating: "We are delighted to have received funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to save the historic Synagogue in Merthyr Tydfil, the most important Jewish heritage site in Wales. Lottery support will allow us to reopen the building to the public and establish a new Welsh Jewish Cultural Centre with an exhibition that tells the stories of the contribution of Welsh Jewish communities to social and economic development in Wales, and with a diverse programme for learning, events and activities. We thank all Lottery players who have made this possible."
Andrew White, director for Wales at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, added: "The Welsh Jewish Cultural Centre project will bring to life the rich and often under-told stories of Jewish communities in Wales, celebrating over 250 years of history and culture. Thanks to National Lottery players, this support will help restore and safeguard a historic Welsh synagogue and create a vibrant space where these stories can be shared, explored and enjoyed by future generations."
