In 1879, the Jewish population of Hampstead began to increase, following the movement of Jews first westward to the West End and Bayswater, and then northwards to St. John's Wood and Hampstead.
A movement was founded to create a new Synagogue in the West Hampstead area.
It was their intention to create a Synagogue which would not follow the traditional service currently held in other United Synagogues.
This however contradicted the views of the leading activist, Herbert Bentwich. Bentwich was a traditionalist who objected to changes being made to the services at St. John's Wood, which he refered to as "increasing Anglican Propriety".
On May 30th 1889, Bentwich called a meeting in West Hampstead Town Hall.
Those attending consisted of members from three congregational bodies: The United Synagogue, The Spanish and Portuguese Synagogues and the Berkeley Street Reform Synagogue.
Their intention was to create a Synagogue which would be somewhere between Orthodoxy and Reform.
On the March 13th 1892, the foundation stone was laid.
In September 1892, the Synagogue held a consecration ceremony, which was conducted by its new minister and chazan.
