It was a day for high fives as St Albans Masorti Synagogue celebrated its 25th anniversary.

The reminiscences of founder members and those who joined at subsequent five-year intervals were shown on a celebratory video. Also featured were the newest members, Matthew and Sarah Hoffbrand, who joined this month following their recent wedding.

From its three family origins in 1990, the congregation has grown to more than 450 adults and children.

Co-chair Simon Samuels recalled that for 20 years, the shul had led a nomadic existence with members storing its books in their garages and helping to move its Torah scroll from location to location. Five years ago, it finally settled into permanent premises - a former warehouse on an industrial estate.

Local MP Anne Main and the Masorti movement's senior rabbi, Jonathan Wittenberg, were also among the speakers, as was the congregation's former minister, Rabbi Jeremy Gordon, and its current spiritual leader, Rabbi Rafi Kaiserblueth.