Faith Leaders | Untold Stories

Joseph Marcus Cohen

1841-1911

Cohen, born in Veszprem, Hungary, was the first minister at the North London Beth Hamedrash (House of Study). The NLBH began life in 1886 in premises at 127 Newington Green Road and later moved to Ferntower Road, with Cohen its librarian and main teacher. His marriage in 1879 to Annie Landeshut was conducted at her home at 71 Oakley Road, Canonbury, by the Chief Rabbi.

Solomon Andrade da Costa

1802-1866

Da Costa was born in London to a Sephardi family. An ostrich feather manufacturer, he moved in later life to Spencer House, 303 Essex Road, where he built a place of worship in his garden. Opening in 1865, it became the first synagogue in Islington. The congregation moved to a bigger building, at 39 Mildmay Park, which closed in 1937.

Elias Cohen

1824-1879

Cohen, a cigar manufacturer, was born in Sheerness, Kent, to parents who moved to Aldgate, where they worked as grocers. He became a prime mover in establishing the Dalston Synagogue, whose congregation initially worshipped at 120 Mildmay Road before moving to purpose-built premises in Poets Road. The synagogue stood proudly for over 80 years but was demolished in the 1960s.

Nathan Marcus Adler

1803-1890

Adler was born in Hanover, Germany, where his father was the city’s Chief Rabbi. In 1844 he was elected Chief Rabbi of the UK, and of the British Empire. Initially settling in Aldgate, near the Great Synagogue, he and his family later moved to 16 Finsbury Square. He was a founder of the NSPCC. On his death his son, Hermann, succeeded him as Chief Rabbi.

Ridley Haim Herschell

1807-1864

Herschell was born in Strzelno, Poland, and arrived in Britain in 1820s/30s, initially settling in Woolwich.
A rabbinical student before leaving Poland, in London he was a ‘lay preacher’, having converted to Christianity. He was minister at the Chadwell Street Chapel in Clerkenwell, then at its successor in Colebrooke Row, during which time he lived in Gibson Square, Barnsbury.

Benjamin Artom

1835-1879

Artom was born in Asti, Italy. He had served as Hacham (Sephardi equivalent of Chief Rabbi) in Naples before in 1866 taking up a similar post in London. He soon mastered English and his sermons were seen as models of eloquence. He wrote several Hebrew prayers and odes, as well as Italian poetry. In later life he lived at 20 City Road, Finsbury.