Garnethill Synagogue

Category: Historic Building/Architectural Interest

Hill Street.

A Synagogue is a place where people of the Jewish faith go to worship, rather like Christians going to a Church or Muslims going to a Mosque. Although each faith has very different ways of worshipping, they each use certain types of building to go and worship their own particular god, and for Jewish people, a Synagogue is a very holy place. Garnethill Synagogue was built in 1881.

It features intricate Romanesque carving on the doorway. The gilded writing above the door is in Hebrew, a very ancient language used by Jews in worship and in the State of Israel. The synagogue was designed by the architect John McLeod, and also features a beautiful dome-shaped window on the side facing Garnet Street. On the front you can also see a round stained glass window with a shape similar to the six-pointed Star Of David. The Synagogue is also very impressive on the inside - you can get the chance to look inside on the annual Open Doors Day.