IF YOU walk into Ealing Liberal Synagogue for the first time, sit in the 'pews' and glance up at the stained glass windows you could be forgiven for thinking you were in a church.

And that is exactly what the building was, when a group of 10 people bought St Luke’s Church and the surrounding land in Lynton Avenue, West Ealing, for £2,350 in 1952. It was consecrated as a synagogue a year later.

After a major refurbishment, the exterior now belies a stunning, chalet-style building which has become the focal point for a community, which had so far wandered from home to home.

Now celebrating its 70th anniversary, the synagogue has come a long way from its early beginnings, which saw meetings or services held in an eclectic array of buildings, with copies of prayer books provided by the Liberal Synagogue at St. John’s Wood.

President and treasurer Arnold Aarons said: “It was virtually a tin shed when we first bought it. We had spent nine years in different buildings: the town hall, Conservative Club and the Quakers Hall. We certainly didn’t mind that this was a church. It ceases to be a church when you put in your own artefacts. We were just delighted to know we had a focal point for our congregation.”

The Ealing Liberal Congregation was established on August 23, 1943 after discussions with the Honourable Lily Montague of the Jewish Religious Union. There were already several Liberal Synagogues in Britain, the first being North London at Amherst Park in 1921.

The first formal meeting of ELS had only 10 members, with Michael Simons as president and Bertram Cohen appointed chairman. A treasurer and secretary were also appointed. The annual subscription was set at 2/6d, which is 12½ pence today. There are only two survivors of this first meeting, Irene Gould and Betty Simons (nee Connick).

Betty, 92, Michael Simons’ daughter-in-law, said: "We first met in some of our houses and only had one scroll, which we had to carry around with us. At the time we didn't have enough money to get our own synagogue so we just carried on as best we could.

"Michael was very orthodox and taught in a school in East London. He and his wife, Bea, ran a school for disadvantaged boys in east London. Gradually he became disillusioned by some of the orthodox people he met and starting thinking about liberal Judaism."

Although they did not have permanent base, the members wanted to emulate those that did.

In October 1945 a religious school was formed and began with seven children, and Michael Simons acting as hon. superintendent. The following December, the number of pupils almost doubled to 13, with classes held at the Conservative Club in Uxbridge Road.

A Ladies' Society was launched in May 1946, with social events and jumble sales to raise funds. It was rapidly becoming apparent that this burgeoning community needed a proper home.

Betty, of Hanger Lane, Ealing, said: "One of the presidents was an estate agent and he found these premises. We didn't mind that it was a church. In some ways it helped because if people didn’t know where we were we just said old St Luke’s. It was so much better than in a house because then we could celebrate our festivals and run events and activities.

"My son was the first person to have a barmitzvah here, which was wonderful. My father-in-law would have been very pleased to know we are still going strong."

On May 3, 1953 the synagogue was consecrated in front of Jewish and non-Jewish dignitaries, with a service led by the Hon. Lily Montague and Rabbi Israel Mattuck, an address by Michael Simons and a choir performance.

Membership of the congregation was now well over 100. On June 15, 1954 the synagogue was officially recognised as a building registered for the solemnisation of marriages.

A decade later and with membership gradually growing, Mr Simons had to stand down due to ill health, and the synagogue appointed its first student rabbi from the US, Mark Golub.

Since then, there have been a number of student rabbis, notably five women, and ELS is now run by rabbi Janet Burden.

She said: "We pride ourselves on being a part of a diverse local community, living side-by-side with people of many faiths and of none. All of us contribute to the wider society; our various cultural heritages make this a richer and more interesting place in which to live.

"London has changed a great deal since the founding of our synagogue in 1943, but one important thing hasn’t changed: Ealing is still a place where neighbours are warm and friendly. Many of our founder members came here as refugees from Europe, when the Nazis were in ascendance. The welcome they received here was such a blessing.

"These doctors, lawyers, businessmen, architects, and musicians quickly found their feet, and today many of their children and grandchildren continue to add to the life of the community.”

The synagogue has continued to grow and develop since the early days, and now publishes a bi-monthly magazine; ‘Shalom’, and runs a bridge club, lunch, book and badminton clubs, a women’s group, and more. Once a month a rabbi’s Tisch is held where members and visitors can meet for supper, prepared by the rabbi.

Jo Coburn, a member for 10 years, said: “I joined the synagogue council a few years ago and have been struck by how all the age groups are represented. The mixing of young and old in synagogue activities is a real strength of ELS.

“The congregation has also had to adapt and respond to the demands on its congregants of modern day life, from the introduction of the monthly Friday night Tisch, where the Rabbi cooks dinner for a large group of people who then all participate in the Shabbat (Sabbath) service to the Saturday morning Hebrew classes taught mainly by the older kids of the congregation, there is a recognition that the synagogue must evolve in order to retain its members.”

Visit www.ealingliberalsynagogue.org.uk