Synagogue research: New profile (Liberal batch 1, user-approved)

2026-11-11T15:23:04Z

New profile (Liberal batch 1, user-approved)

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{{short description|'''Liberal-heritage synagogue in Oakwood, Enfield, north London, formed in 1943'''}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Southgate Progressive Synagogue
| logo = Southgate-progressive-synagogue-logo.png
| type = Synagogue; registered charity (unincorporated)
| founded = {{Start date|1943}}
| registration_id = 239096 ([[Charity Commission for England and Wales|Charity Commission]])
| headquarters = 75 Chase Road, Oakwood, London N14 4QY
| location = Oakwood, London Borough of Enfield
| registration = England and Wales
| website = https://sps.uk.com/
}}
'''Southgate Progressive Synagogue''' (SPS) is a Liberal-heritage synagogue in Chase Road, Oakwood, in the London Borough of [[Enfield]], north London, formed in 1943 as Southgate and Enfield Progressive Synagogue.<ref name="JCR">David Shulman, [https://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/london/southgate_lib/index.htm Southgate Progressive Synagogue (formerly Southgate & District Liberal Synagogue), London N14], ''JCR-UK'', amended 2 July 2026, accessed 11 November 2026.</ref> It is registered charity 239096.<ref name="CC239096Gov">Charity Commission for England and Wales, [https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/239096/governance Southgate Progressive Synagogue: governance], ''Register of Charities'', accessed 11 November 2026.</ref> Its 2025 accounts say it “is affiliated to the Movement for Progressive Judaism as of 2026”.<ref name="Acc25">Southgate Progressive Synagogue, Annual report and unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025, filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (via the [https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/239096/accounts-and-annual-returns register entry]), accessed 11 November 2026.</ref>

== History ==
[[JCR-UK]] gives 1943 as the formation date and records the names Southgate and Enfield Progressive Synagogue (until about 1950), Southgate and District Liberal Synagogue (about 1950 to about 1989) and Southgate Progressive Synagogue; it dates the acquisition of the Chase Road site to 1954, an initial synagogue to 1959 and the present purpose-built synagogue to 1989, with an earlier address at the Community Hall, Green Road, Chase Side.<ref name="JCR" /> [[Lawrence Rigal]] and [[Rosita Rosenberg]] name Southgate among the congregations that had joined the Liberal movement by 1952 but give no founding date.<ref name="RR145">Lawrence Rigal and Rosita Rosenberg, ''Liberal Judaism: The First Hundred Years'', London: Liberal Judaism / Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues, 2004, p. 145.</ref>

JCR-UK lists as clergy [[Rudolph Brasch]] (early 1940s to about 1946), [[Jakob Jankel Kokotek]] (about 1946–48), [[Harry Jacobi]] (about 1956–75), [[Stephen Howard]] (about 1987–2010), [[Yuval Keren]] (2012–22), [[Danny Rich]] (interim 2022 to July 2024) and [[Danny Newman]] (from 2024).<ref name="JCR" /> The 2025 accounts instead describe a rabbinic team “headed by our Senior Rabbi Danny Rich and supported by Rabbi Danny Newman from November 2024 until January 2026 and Cantor Rachel Weston since then”, and record an annual lecture in memory of Emeritus Rabbi Harry Jacobi.<ref name="Acc25" /> JCR-UK’s membership entries are 740 members in 1990, 550 households in 1996 and 500–749 households in the 2010 and 2016 surveys.<ref name="JCR" />

The 2025 accounts record that the synagogue’s major tenant, Southover Ltd, left, that the synagogue bought portable cabins it had previously hired, and that its religion school, Ruach, moved into them, renamed ‘Moadon’.<ref name="Acc25" /> The website says the community is “lively, friendly and inclusive” and lists support for conversion, interfaith dialogue and welfare among its aims.<ref name="Web">Southgate Progressive Synagogue, [https://sps.uk.com/ Home], ''Southgate Progressive Synagogue'', accessed 11 November 2026.</ref><ref name="Who">Southgate Progressive Synagogue, [https://sps.uk.com/home/who-are-we/ Who are we?], ''Southgate Progressive Synagogue'', accessed 11 November 2026.</ref>

== Affiliation and governance ==
The congregation’s constitution lists as its first object “the advancement of Liberal Judaism”; the 2025 accounts say it is represented on the Board of Deputies of British Jews and supports the Leo Baeck College.<ref name="Acc25" /> Its website says it is “a constituent member of The Movement For Progressive Judaism”.<ref name="Who" /> JCR-UK says it was a constituent synagogue of Liberal Judaism (formerly the ULPS) and became a constituent community of the [[The Movement for Progressive Judaism|Movement for Progressive Judaism]] on 1 January 2026.<ref name="JCR" /><ref name="MPJ">The Movement for Progressive Judaism, [https://progressivejudaism.org.uk/applications-open-for-candidates-for-mpj-chair/ Applications open for candidates for MPJ Chair of Trustees], ''The Movement for Progressive Judaism'', accessed 11 November 2026.</ref> JCR-UK gives the governing documents as a deed of trust dated 20 November 1953 and a constitution amended on 10 February 2005 and 26 June 2008, and the charity as registered on 31 March 1965.<ref name="JCR" />

== Charity, officers and accounts ==
The charity is registered with the [[Charity Commission for England and Wales|Charity Commission]] as Southgate Progressive Synagogue, number 239096. The register records standard registration on 31 March 1965.<ref name="CC239096Gov" /> Its organisation type is given as trust. Other names recorded: SOUTHGATE AND DISTRICT LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE (Previous name).

The register address is 75 Chase Road, Southgate, London, N14 4QY.<ref name="CC239096Addr">Charity Commission for England and Wales, [https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/239096/contact-information Southgate Progressive Synagogue: contact information], ''Register of Charities'', accessed 11 November 2026.</ref> The governing document is DEED OF TRUST DATED 20 NOVEMBER 1953 AND CONSTITUTION AMENDED 10 FEBRUARY 2005 AND 26 JUNE 2008. as amended on 09 June 2011 as amended on 24 June 2015 as amended on 29 June 2016 as amended on 13 June 2018 as amended on 23 June 2021 as amended on 06 June 2024 as amended on 27 May 2026.<ref name="CC239096Obj">Charity Commission for England and Wales, [https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/239096/governing-document Southgate Progressive Synagogue: governing document], ''Register of Charities'', accessed 11 November 2026.</ref> Its registered objects are: “(a) the advancement of Progressive Judaism (b) to provide and maintain a place of worship (c) to arrange and conduct religious services and religious instruction classes (d) to promote cultural, educational, social and youth activities (e) tp solemnise marriages (f) to arrange means of burial or cremation (g) to arrange and perform other religious rites, charitable duties and other activities as may be determined.”<ref name="CC239096Obj" />

=== Trustees ===
The register lists 13 trustees on 11 November 2026.<ref name="CC239096Tr">Charity Commission for England and Wales, [https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/239096/trustees Southgate Progressive Synagogue: trustees], ''Register of Charities'', accessed 11 November 2026.</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Current trustees on the Charity Commission register
! Trustee !! Role !! Appointment recorded by the Charity Commission !! Source
|-
| [[Mark Shaw]] || Chair || 5 February 2020 || <ref name="CC239096Tr" />
|-
| [[Phillip Andrew Isle]] || Trustee || 2 September 2026 || <ref name="CC239096Tr" />
|-
| [[Stephen Andrew Lesley]] || Trustee || 27 May 2026 || <ref name="CC239096Tr" />
|-
| [[Jonathan Green]] || Trustee || 4 June 2025 || <ref name="CC239096Tr" />
|-
| [[Jill Newton]] || Trustee || 5 July 2023 || <ref name="CC239096Tr" />
|-
| [[Kay Lewis]] || Trustee || 2 November 2022 || <ref name="CC239096Tr" />
|-
| [[Amanda Lesley]] || Trustee || 23 June 2021 || <ref name="CC239096Tr" />
|-
| [[Anthony Marsh]] || Trustee || 1 July 2020 || <ref name="CC239096Tr" />
|-
| [[Stephanie Marsh]] || Trustee || 6 May 2020 || <ref name="CC239096Tr" />
|-
| [[Michele Raab]] || Trustee || 13 June 2018 || <ref name="CC239096Tr" />
|-
| [[Norma Jacobs]] || Trustee || 13 June 2017 || <ref name="CC239096Tr" />
|-
| [[Rachelle Ellenby]] || Trustee || 20 June 2013 || <ref name="CC239096Tr" />
|-
| [[Barbara Leila Martin]] || Trustee || 24 June 1997 || <ref name="CC239096Tr" />
|}

=== Accounts ===
For the financial year ended 31 December 2025 the register records total income of £355,721 and total expenditure of £344,631, with 30 volunteers.<ref name="CC239096Ov">Charity Commission for England and Wales, [https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/239096 Southgate Progressive Synagogue: overview], ''Register of Charities'', accessed 11 November 2026.</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ 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 December 2021 || £305.43k || £292.67k || <ref name="CC239096Fin">Charity Commission for England and Wales, [https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/239096/financial-history Southgate Progressive Synagogue: financial history], ''Register of Charities'', accessed 11 November 2026.</ref>
|-
| 31 December 2022 || £326.66k || £329.05k || <ref name="CC239096Fin" />
|-
| 31 December 2023 || £334.28k || £336.15k || <ref name="CC239096Fin" />
|-
| 31 December 2024 || £345.85k || £358.74k || <ref name="CC239096Fin" />
|-
| 31 December 2025 || £355.72k || £344.63k || <ref name="CC239096Fin" />
|}

== See also ==
* [[The Movement for Progressive Judaism]]
* [[Liberal Judaism (UK)]]
* [[Synagogues in the United Kingdom]]

== External links ==
* [https://sps.uk.com/ Official website]

== Notes ==
<references/>

[[Category:Charities in England and Wales]]
[[Category:Jewish charities in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Liberal Judaism]]
[[Category:Synagogues in London]]

Southgate Progressive Synagogue - Revision history

Synagogue research: New profile (Liberal batch 1, user-approved)