The Ark Synagogue (Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue)

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Liberal-heritage synagogue in Northwood, north-west London, now a community of the Movement for Progressive Judaism

The Ark Synagogue (Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue)

Logo The-ark-synagogue-northwood-and-pinner-liberal-synagogue-logo.png
Type Synagogue; registered charity; company limited by guarantee
Founded 1964
Registration ID 1160487 (Charity Commission); company 09349392
Headquarters 18–24 Oaklands Gate, Northwood HA6 3AA
Location Northwood, London Borough of Hillingdon
Registration England and Wales
Website https://arksynagogue.org/

The Ark Synagogue is the working name of The Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue (NPLS), a Liberal-heritage synagogue at Oaklands Gate, Northwood, in north-west London.[1] The registered charity and company use the formal name Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, and the Charity Commission lists both NPLS and The Ark Synagogue as working names.[2] JCR-UK dates the congregation to 1964 and records that it was a constituent synagogue of Liberal Judaism until that body merged into The Movement for Progressive Judaism on 1 January 2026, when the congregation became a constituent community of the new body.[3]

History

Lawrence Rigal and Rosita Rosenberg’s centenary history of Liberal Judaism records a public meeting at Northwood and Pinner on 21 January 1964 and a first service in May 1964; the congregation had formally affiliated to the Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues by September 1964. It dates the consecration of a former church in High Road, Northwood to February 1967 and of the purpose-built Oaklands Gate building to 1 February 1981.[4] JCR-UK gives a different sequence of premises: West House, Pinner (1964–66), Hallowell Road, Northwood (1966–80) and a purpose-built synagogue at Oaklands Gate from 1980; it also records that the congregation was known as Pinner Liberal Jewish Congregation until 1966.[3] The sources agree on 1964 as the start of the congregation; the premises dates differ and are given as each source states them.

An earlier group in Little Chalfont, the New Bucks Group, was affiliated to the congregation in the 1970s;[3] Rosenberg records that South Bucks Jewish Community began as a Northwood-area group in 1977 and became an independent congregation in 1990.[5]

Selected rabbis and clergy recorded by JCR-UK
Clergy member Recorded service Source
Charles Familant Rabbi in 1964 [3]
Andrew Goldstein Principal of the religion school from 1965; minister and rabbi from 1970 (later senior rabbi) until 2008; emeritus rabbi since 2008 [3]
Aaron Goldstein Part-time assistant rabbi from 2007; senior rabbi from 2008 [3]
Lea Mühlstein Rabbi from 2013 [3]
Andrea Kulikovsky Assistant rabbi from September 2025 [3]

JCR-UK lists 503 member households in 1990, 750–999 households in 2010 and 500–749 in 2016, and quotes the congregation’s website for about 1,000 adults and 300 young members in 2018. These come from different surveys and are not a current count.[3]

Affiliation and governance

The congregation’s registered objects begin with “the advancement of Liberal Judaism” and state that the synagogue shall be affiliated to Liberal Judaism.[6] JCR-UK records it as a constituent community of the Movement for Progressive Judaism since 1 January 2026, and the joint Liberal and Reform community list published by Path to Progressive Judaism includes it among its London congregations.[3][7] The 1964 affiliation to the Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues and the 2026 transfer into the Movement for Progressive Judaism are separate dated events.

Charity, officers and accounts

The charity is registered with the Charity Commission as The Northwood And Pinner Liberal Synagogue, number 1160487. The register records standard registration on 13 February 2015; later entries: 4 July 2016, funds received from 243618 NORTHWOOD AND PINNER LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE.[2] Its organisation type is given as charitable company. Other names recorded: NPLS (working name) The Ark Synagogue (working name).

It is also a company, number 09349392, on the Companies House register.[8]

The register address is 18 - 24 Oaklands Gate, Northwood, HA6 3AA.[9] The governing document is MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES INCORPORATED 10 December 2014 as amended on 17 September 2022 as amended on 07 December 2025.[6] Its registered objects are: “The advancement of Liberal Judaism (and the Synagogue shall be affiliated to Liberal Judaism). To provide, maintain and carry on a place of worship and arrange and conduct religious services. To provide, arrange and conduct religious education. To make provision for the solemnisation of marriage. To make provision for burial and cremation. To perform such other religious rites and charitable duties as the trustees shall from time to determine.”[6]

The earlier unincorporated charity, Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue (number 243618), is dated by JCR-UK to 5 January 1967; JCR-UK says the whole undertaking was transferred to the company with effect from 1 April 2015.[3]

Trustees

The register lists 9 trustees on 11 November 2026.[10]

Current trustees on the Charity Commission register
Trustee Role Appointment recorded by the Charity Commission Source
Alex Haffner Trustee 7 January 2026 [10]
Sheena Porter Trustee 7 January 2026 [10]
Leo Kevin Mindel Trustee 7 December 2025 [10]
Leon Kahn Trustee 7 December 2025 [10]
Deborah Ann Boffey Trustee 7 December 2025 [10]
Paul Victor Morton Trustee 4 December 2024 [10]
Laurence Julian Blake Trustee 5 July 2023 [10]
Nicola Ruth Connor Trustee 7 December 2022 [10]
Diana Rose Trustee 26 January 2022 [10]

Company officers

Companies House records company 09349392; its appointments and resignations are company-office dates and may differ from the trustee dates above.[11]

Current and former company officers recorded by Companies House
Officer Office Appointment Resignation Status on 11 November 2026 Source
Susan Boobis Secretary 1 November 2023 — Active [11]
Laurence Julian Blake Director 5 July 2023 — Active [11]
Deborah Ann Boffey Director 7 December 2025 — Active [11]
Nicola Ruth Connor Director 7 December 2022 — Active [11]
Alex Haffner Director 7 January 2026 — Active [11]
Leon Oscar Kahn Director 7 December 2025 — Active [11]
Leo Kevin Mindel Director 7 December 2025 — Active [11]
Paul Victor Morton Director 4 December 2024 — Active [11]
Sheena Kendra Porter Director 7 January 2026 — Active [11]
Diana Rose Director 26 January 2022 — Active [11]
Philip Daniel Aarons Director 3 April 2019 4 November 2020 Resigned [11]
Maurice Peter Ashkenazi-bakes Director 5 July 2018 4 December 2021 Resigned [11]
Philip Austin Director 23 April 2015 30 June 2020 Resigned [11]
Peter Simon Bello Director 23 April 2015 6 July 2017 Resigned [11]
Susan Boobis Director 23 April 2015 1 November 2023 Resigned [11]
Adrienne Hanna Jane Cohen Director 23 April 2015 7 July 2016 Resigned [11]
Nigel John Cole Director 10 December 2014 23 April 2015 Resigned [11]
Richard Franklin Colin Director 1 January 2018 7 December 2025 Resigned [11]
Joanne Yvonne Davis Director 1 October 2020 7 December 2025 Resigned [11]
Mark Faith Director 23 April 2015 5 July 2018 Resigned [11]
Judith Sharon Fox Director 23 April 2015 6 July 2017 Resigned [11]
Neil Arthur Frais Director 1 January 2020 1 January 2020 Resigned [11]
Neil Arthur Frais Director 23 April 2015 7 July 2016 Resigned [11]
Barbara Fraser Director 7 July 2016 21 March 2017 Resigned [11]
Jacqueline Elaine Goodman Director 23 April 2015 4 July 2019 Resigned [11]
Suzanne Charlotte Haffner Director 23 April 2015 28 October 2019 Resigned [11]
Nicole Hershon Director 1 February 2018 1 December 2021 Resigned [11]
Carole Jordan Director 6 July 2017 1 December 2021 Resigned [11]
Sherif Alexander Kahky Director 1 October 2020 1 November 2023 Resigned [11]
Margaret Konigsberg Director 23 April 2015 4 July 2019 Resigned [11]
Stanley David Levin Director 1 January 2020 4 December 2021 Resigned [11]
Leslie Norman Moss Director 23 April 2015 1 December 2021 Resigned [11]
Marsha Joy Myers Director 23 April 2015 5 July 2018 Resigned [11]
Abigail Eleanor Purkiss Director 6 July 2017 5 July 2018 Resigned [11]
Benjamin David Rickayzen Director 5 July 2018 4 December 2021 Resigned [11]
Julian David Rose Director 5 August 2020 1 December 2021 Resigned [11]
Philip Stone Director 10 December 2014 23 April 2015 Resigned [11]
Christopher David Stump Director 10 January 2023 17 January 2025 Resigned [11]
Sarah Amanda Twaites Director 23 April 2015 5 July 2018 Resigned [11]
Susan Jayne Whaley Director 5 August 2020 7 December 2025 Resigned [11]
Michael Woodcock Director 4 December 2021 7 December 2025 Resigned [11]

Accounts

For the financial year ended 31 March 2026 the register records total income of £946,558 and total expenditure of £1,023,815, with 30 employees and 50 volunteers.[12]

Income and expenditure recorded on the Charity Commission register (figures as rounded on the register)
Financial year end Total gross income Total expenditure Source
31 March 2022 £1.05m £729.70k [13]
31 March 2023 £764.45k £752.98k [13]
31 March 2024 £871.64k £788.44k [13]
31 March 2025 £964.74k £1.00m [13]
31 March 2026 £946.56k £1.02m [13]

Relations with Israel

The congregation’s report for the year ended 31 March 2025 says that The Ark has a formal twin congregation in Israel and two in Ukraine, that its rabbis organised several trips to Israel during the year, and that its Yom Kippur appeal is directed to local, Jewish and Israeli charities; the 2024 appeal had received £32,100 by 31 March 2025, distributed among the chosen charities and the Rabbis’ Discretionary Fund. The report does not name the Israeli twin congregation or the Israeli recipients. It also says the senior rabbis hosted a 7 October memorial service and art exhibition, that remembrance of Israeli hostages at services and a weekly presence at the Westminster hostage vigil were “deeply meaningful” to the congregation, and that Rabbi Lea Mühlstein leads on Israel affairs.[14]

The report for the year ended 31 March 2026 again refers to links with partner congregations in Israel and Ukraine. A restricted “Israel” fund, whose stated purpose is “to provide much needed financial support to help Jewish congregations in Israel”, received £768 and paid out £144 that year, leaving £624.[15]

See also

External links

Notes

  1. ↑ The Ark Synagogue, Home, The Ark Synagogue, accessed 11 November 2026.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Charity Commission for England and Wales, The Northwood And Pinner Liberal Synagogue: governance, Register of Charities, accessed 11 November 2026.
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 David Shulman, The Ark Synagogue (formerly Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue), Greater London, England, JCR-UK, amended 29 April 2026, accessed 11 November 2026.
  4. ↑ Lawrence Rigal and Rosita Rosenberg, Liberal Judaism: The First Hundred Years, London: Liberal Judaism / Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues, 2004, pp. 148–149.
  5. ↑ Lawrence Rigal and Rosita Rosenberg, Liberal Judaism: The First Hundred Years, London: Liberal Judaism / Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues, 2004, p. 155.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Charity Commission for England and Wales, The Northwood And Pinner Liberal Synagogue: governing document, Register of Charities, accessed 11 November 2026.
  7. ↑ Path to Progressive Judaism, Community Finder: view by list, Path to Progressive Judaism, accessed 11 November 2026.
  8. ↑ Companies House, The Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue (09349392): overview, Find and update company information, accessed 11 November 2026.
  9. ↑ Charity Commission for England and Wales, The Northwood And Pinner Liberal Synagogue: contact information, Register of Charities, accessed 11 November 2026.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 10.9 Charity Commission for England and Wales, The Northwood And Pinner Liberal Synagogue: trustees, Register of Charities, accessed 11 November 2026.
  11. ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 11.15 11.16 11.17 11.18 11.19 11.20 11.21 11.22 11.23 11.24 11.25 11.26 11.27 11.28 11.29 11.30 11.31 11.32 11.33 11.34 11.35 11.36 11.37 11.38 11.39 11.40 11.41 Companies House, The Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue (09349392): officers, Find and update company information, accessed 11 November 2026.
  12. ↑ Charity Commission for England and Wales, The Northwood And Pinner Liberal Synagogue: overview, Register of Charities, accessed 11 November 2026.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Charity Commission for England and Wales, The Northwood And Pinner Liberal Synagogue: financial history, Register of Charities, accessed 11 November 2026.
  14. ↑ The Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, Directors’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025, Annual report and accounts, PDF pp. 8–9, accessed 11 November 2026.
  15. ↑ The Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, Directors’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2026, Annual report and accounts, PDF pp. 9, 26, 33–34, accessed 11 November 2026.
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