A milestone in the development of a new home for a pioneering shared synagogue project was celebrated this week with the ceremonial laying of the first three bricks.

The Mosaic synagogue in Stanmore will accommodate services and other activities for members of its Reform, Liberal and Masorti communities.

It was previously based at the Harrow home of Mosaic Reform (formerly the Middlesex New). But the new building is closer to where the bulk of members live and leaders of the constituent communities look forward to moving in next spring.

Mosaic Reform chair Harry Grant told the JC: “It’s the first building like this of its kind in the UK with three synagogues working together, creating a new community where we share our space and activities. By working together and pooling our resources we can improve things.”

Religious activities will be separate but administration, education and social activities will be arranged jointly.

The main spacious area will be split into smaller sound-proofed spaces through “sophisticated partitioning” for services.

The synagogue is being developed by property firm Griggs, which is also building residential apartments above the shul, which will be sold commercially. 

“I think the move is very exciting,” added Mosaic Reform’s Rabbi Kathleen de Magtige-Middleton.

“You see the rest of the community going more inwards but we are looking outwards, thinking about what we have in common rather than how we differ. We can learn from one another, which I think can only make us stronger.”