Religious artefacts sell for £147,000
The items were sold for more than the valuation price at auction house Bonhams in London yesterday.
They include a rare pair of rimmonim, Torah scroll ornaments thought to have been made in London in 1783 and valued at around £60,000, which sold for £62,400, and an extremely rare 18th century silver and parcel-gilt silver Torah shield with chain, which sold for £25,200.
The Jewish Heritage charity had hit out at the congregation for putting its ceremonial silver, more than 200 years old, up for auction.
However, leaders of the Catherine Street synagogue defended the decision and said they were a 'dying congregation' of just 50 members and in desperate need of the funds. Honorary treasurer Dr Peter Lee said the proceeds of the auction would be invested.
"They sold for more than the original valuations, which is what you always hope for," he said.
"We're quite pleased. What it will do is give us a lump sum that enables us to invest for an income that we need in order to support cash flow."
He said there had been several different buyers of the artefacts and while Bonhams was keeping their identities confidential, the items had had interest from Australia, the United States, Israel and British museums.
Although its numbers have dwindled over recent years, Plymouth Synagogue is the oldest Ashkenazi synagogue still in use in the English- speaking world.
The Grade II-listed building was built in 1762 and has Baroque features and stained-glass windows.
It was one of the few buildings in the city centre to survive the Blitz.
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