The Central Synagogue was founded in 1848, in the West End, because that was where the wealthier members of the London Jewish community had moved – away from the three City of London synagogues. Originally at 120 Great Portland Street, it moved to 133-141 Great Portland Street (where the current synagogue is) in 1868, and an ornate new building was built. It was a highly ornate, Moorish-style building, reflecting the wealth of its members.
Sadly, like several other major synagogues in London, it was heavily damaged in the bombing during World War II, and demolished.
I have previously written about the history of the Central Synagogue, and the annual reports, of 1908, 1909 and 1910.
The 1909 list of subscribers includes some of the wealthiest and most famous of the Jewish community in London at that time. Lord Rothschild, Alfred de Rothschild, Lionel de Rothschild, Adolph Tuck, the Beddington family, Ellis Franklin, Redcliffe Salaman, Sir Marcus Samuel, Edward Strauss, M.P., Lord Swaythling, Lucien Wolf, Baron de Worms, to name just some of them.
Here are the Officers, Seatholders and Members:
Jewish Miscellanies 