Major National Culture Centre for Merthyr!

There is very exciting news for Merthyr Tydfil with approval given for a major £6m project to restore the historic Synagogue overlooking the town centre and establish a new national Welsh Jewish Cultural Centre which celebrates the contribution of Welsh Jewish communities to the social, cultural and economic development in Wales. The project has been made possible thanks to an award of nearly £4m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund (external link) (opens in new tab), £1.7m from Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council through the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns initiative, and grants from several leading charitable organisations.

Heritage is deeply rooted in Merthyr Tydfil, reflecting the rich industrial, cultural and social history that has influenced both the local community and the wider story of Wales. Preserving and celebrating this heritage connects present and future generations with the people, traditions and achievements that define the town.

The Synagogue is among the town’s most important architectural landmarks. It is also the most important Jewish heritage site in Wales, and the only historic purpose-built Synagogue in Wales to have survived. It serves as a valuable link to a unique aspect of the country’s multicultural past. The Welsh Jewish Cultural Centre will ensure the Synagogue will be open to the public and that it continues to enrich the town’s diverse story.

The building has a fascinating history. It ceased functioning as a place of worship in 1983, following the decline of the local Jewish population, and for nearly twenty years was the main gym in Merthyr Tydfil. Many local people having fond memories of exercising in the building. It closed permanently in 2004 and rapidly deteriorated, placing it at increasing risk until it was acquired by the Foundation for Jewish Heritage (external link) (opens in new tab) in 2019. Since then, the Foundation has worked to save the building as a heritage site and community facility. A new charity, the Welsh Jewish Cultural Centre, has been established to lead the redevelopment project in partnership with the Foundation.

The project will be a significant initiative for Merthyr and plans are well underway. The project has already secured planning and listed building consent. Work is set to start on the detailed design process, with a contractor expected to be appointed in mid 2027.

When open, the Welsh Jewish Cultural Centre will feature an exhibition that showcases the history of Jewish communities in Wales and their experience, much of which is unknown. There will be an ambitious learning and activity programme, as well as events that bring together different communities to explore their distinct cultures and shared Welsh heritage. The Centre will enhance the expanding tourist and visitor offer in Merthyr Tydfil, and will also provide new facilities for the local community.

Andrew White, Director for Wales, The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “The Welsh Jewish Cultural Centre project will bring to life the rich and often under-told stories of Jewish communities in Wales, celebrating over 250 years of history and culture. Thanks to National Lottery players, this support will help restore and safeguard a historic Welsh synagogue and create a vibrant space where these stories can be shared, explored and enjoyed by future generations.”

David Bearman, Chair of Trustees of the Welsh Jewish Cultural Centre, stated: We are delighted to have received funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Welsh Government and others to save the historic Synagogue in Merthyr Tydfil, the most important Jewish heritage site in Wales. Lottery support will allow us to reopen the building to the public, and establish a new Welsh Jewish Cultural Centre with an exhibition that tells the stories of the contribution of Welsh communities to the social and economic development in Wales, and with a diverse programme for learning, events and activities. We thank all Lottery players who have made this possible.

Dame Helen Hyde DBE, Chair of Trustees of the Foundation for Jewish Heritage, commented: Merthyr synagogue was in a very poor state when our Foundation bought the building in 2019 with the vision to create a Welsh Jewish Cultural Centre that would present the 260 year history of the Jewish experience in Wales. We’ve been delighted with the level of interest and support this unique project has received from the local Merthyr community and across Wales. This relates especially to the National Lottery Heritage Fund Wales whose advice, guidance and support has been crucial to the project’s progress. We are thrilled to have been awarded these final very generous Delivery Phase grants which will enable us to bring the project fully to fruition. The Centre will make a unique contribution to the cultural and educational landscape of Wales.

Stephen Goldman, Chair of Project Steering Committee, added: The Victorian synagogue of Merthyr Tydfil in Wales is a striking building that was established at a time when Merthyr was the largest town in Wales and an industrial powerhouse. The building represents a shared heritage – it is both Jewish and Welsh heritage reflecting the story of a particular community that made its own distinct contribution to Welsh society, and yet is little known. That is why the Welsh Jewish Cultural Centre project is so important, bringing the story of this community to the fore and, in so doing, promoting cross-cultural and inter-faith understanding. It is vital in today’s world that people and communities understand and appreciate each other, and this project will play its part, helping to support wider social cohesion within Wales. We are hugely grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, Welsh Government and our other funders for this terrific support.