Singers Hill Synagogue

The Singers Hill Synagogue stands in Birmingham’s city centre on Blucher Street. It belongs to the Birmingham Hebrew Congregation, an Orthodox Jewish community that has worshipped in the Ashkenazi rite since 1780. The present building, completed in 1856, replaced earlier synagogues that had moved from The Froggery to Hurst Street and then to Severn Street. Yeoville Thomason designed the red and yellow brick structure, blending Classical Revival, Romanesque Revival and Italianate details. A central Bimah sits beneath a large Norman-wheel window, following a classical basilica plan. The building was recognised as a Grade II* listed structure in 1970. The synagogue’s history reflects the growth of Birmingham’s Jewish community across two centuries. After a fire in 1827, the Severn Street Synagogue was rebuilt and later became a masonic hall. The 1856 building introduced stained glass by Hardman Studios, commissioned between 1956 and 1963 under the oversight of Joseph Cohen. These windows add colour and craftsmanship to the interior, marking a century of artistic development. The congregation’s early years began in a modest synagogue known as The Froggery before moving to larger premises. Inside, visitors find a spacious hall with a central Bimah and a striking Norman-wheel window above. The stained glass windows cast patterned light across the pews and walls. The exterior’s red and yellow brickwork shows the mix of architectural styles chosen by Thomason. The Grade II* listing recognises the building’s historical and architectural importance. The synagogue remains an active place of worship and a quiet point of interest in the city centre.