Plan to Convert East London Synagogue Into Mosque Ignites Fury
A local Muslim community in Whitechapel is fundraising to purchase the historic Nelson Street Synagogue at auction, aiming to transform the site into an Islamic center.
A century-old landmark of Jewish life in the East End has become the center of a heated cultural and demographic debate. A local Muslim group in Whitechapel has launched a public fundraising campaign to acquire the historic East London Central Synagogue building, with the explicit goal of converting the site into a mosque and Islamic center.
The controversy erupted after a video circulated on social media today showing a local resident in Salafi dress standing before the structure at 40 Nelson Street. In the footage, the speaker calls on supporters to donate urgently, framing the potential purchase as a symbolic opportunity for demographic change in an area that was once the heart of Britain’s Jewish community.
A Heritage at the Auction Block
The building, known as the Nelson Street Synagogue, is scheduled for public auction on February 12 by the firm Equitix. The Federation of Synagogues, which owns the property, has set a starting price of over £2 million.
The prospect of the sale has triggered a wave of public concern among heritage advocates and former residents. To many, the conversion represents the final erasure of Jewish history in Tower Hamlets, a borough that once housed dozens of vibrant congregations.
Established in 1923, the synagogue served as a spiritual hub for decades for the thousands of Jewish immigrants who settled in the East End. As the Jewish community moved toward Northwest London in the latter half of the 20th century, the congregation dwindled. The synagogue officially closed its doors in 2020. Since then, the building has fallen into disrepair, suffering from significant structural damage, including a collapsed ceiling caused by a leaking roof.
The Transformation of Whitechapel
The bid to repurpose the synagogue reflects the deep demographic transformation of Whitechapel, which now has a predominant Muslim population. While repurposing religious buildings is not uncommon in London's history, many East End mosques were previously churches or even synagogues, this specific effort has met with sharp resistance.
Critics on social media and within the Jewish community describe the move as an "aggressive" takeover of an iconic religious site. They argue that the building should be preserved as a Jewish heritage site or museum, rather than being converted into a center for a different faith.
The speaker in the viral fundraising video expressed confidence that the necessary funds would be raised quickly, citing the strength and organization of the local community.
As the February 12 auction date approaches, the fate of 40 Nelson Street remains uncertain. Whether the synagogue remains a crumbling relic of the past or begins a new chapter as an Islamic center, its sale will mark the definitive end of an era for the Jewish East End.