Agudath Sholem Synagogue
Congregation Agudath Sholom (CAS) is a historic Jewish synagogue in Stamford, Connecticut. The original synagogue building was later converted into a Christian church building, the Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. It's one of multiple synagogues considered in a study of NRHP eligibility. History. The Agudath Sholom congregation website states that on September 7, 1889, twenty-two members formally declared themselves as "Agudath Sholom Synagogue"; meaning "knot for peace" or "society for peace". The congregation constructed their first synagogue, the Greyrock Synagogue, from 1904 through 1908. The congregation used the building until February 1932 when the Greyrock  Synagogue was destroyed in a fire. In order to meet the demands of its growing congregation, funds were raised for a new synagogue. A fund raiser for $1.2 million was done to raise the necessary capital; it was announced that $860,000 was made by February 1963.<ref name="http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2229&dat=19630217&id=GFMmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EAEGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2295,2634663"></ref> In 1965, the congregation completed and dedicated a new synagogue on Strawberry Hill Avenue and Colonial Road. The synagogue currently resides at 301 Strawberry Hill Avenue. The Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church now uses the Grove St synagogue. Construction. Located at 29 Grove Street in  Stamford, Connecticut, the Agudath Sholom Synagogue was the second synagogue of the congregation. According to the National Register of Historic Places, the ground breaking occurred on September 12, 1933, and the final dedication was on April 27, 1941. According to the congregation's website, the Agudath Sholom Synagogue was completed in 1938 and the "Chanukkat Habayit dedication occurred on the High Holidays". The construction delayed by funding difficulties that resulted from the Great Depression. The synagogue is a rectangular brick building constructed on a high basement. The building features a prominent rose window depicting the Star of David. Significance. While  it was originally a synagogue, the Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church continues to use the building as a church, but this did not impact the "National Landmark" status bestowed upon the building. For the National Register of Historic Places, it was submitted under Criterion C because it was "Constructed as a Jewish house of worship, located in an urban setting, exhibits integrity of design and workmanship and constructed prior to 1945."