Brondesbury Synagogue

In the mid-19th century the Jewish population in north-west London was increasing. In 1900 the first meetings of Brondesbury Synagogue were held, and by 1905 the synagogue had been constructed in Chevening Road. Its catchment area was Cricklewood, Willesden, Willesden Green and Brondesbury.

In 1923 a new synagogue, the Willesden Green and Cricklewood Synagogue, was opened on Walm Lane to ease overcrowding in the Brondesbury Synagogue. It became a constituent synagogue of the United Synagogue in 1931 and changed its name to Cricklewood Synagogue. For the records of this synagogue, see ACC/2712/CKS.

In 1926 the Harlesden Hebrew Congregation and Talmud Torah began to meet. They acquired a site for a building in 1933 and became a District Synagogue of the United Synagogue with the name Willesden District Synagogue. A hall was constructed on College Road.

Meanwhile, another group had been formed in the area, this one with an affiliation to the Federation of Synagogues. They were known as the Willesden Green Federation Synagogue, and in 1934 opened a synagogue in a converted house in Heathfield Park. In 1937 it was decided to expand the Synagogue building and a site on nearby Brondesbury Park was purchased. Unfortunately the Synagogue ran into financial difficulties, just at the same time as the Willesden District Synagogue was finding its hall too small. In 1939 the two Synagogues agreed to merge and use the larger Brondesbury Park site. They were to be known as Willesden Synagogue.

An Ohel Shem Congregation was founded in the area in 1945. It was closed in 1988 and the members joined Willesden Synagogue.

In 1974 the Brondesbury Synagogue closed and its members were dispersed between the Cricklewood and Willesden Synagogues. Willesden Synagogue then changed its name to Willesden and Brondesbury Synagogue.

In the 2000s the Synagogue changed its name again, to Brondesbury Synagogue; and then in 2007 changed to Brondesbury Park Synagogue.

See "History of the Willesden and Brondesbury Synagogue, 1934-1994" for more information (a copy can be found in file ACC/2712/BBS/02/041).