Thousands of pounds have been donated towards a bid to bring a once-thriving synagogue back to life.

Middle Street synagogue in Brighton has been supported by three heritage funding bodies which have given £40,000 to support a feasibility study aimed at finding a "viable future use" for the Grade II* listed building.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has donated £20,000, the Architectural Heritage Fund has contributed £10,000 and the Pilgrim Trust £10,000, which will be put towards the building survey for the study.

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The funds were arranged after the owners of Middle Street synagogue and the Brighton and Hove Hebrew Congregation (BHHC) partnered with the Foundation For Jewish Heritage who work towards preserving buildings of Jewish heritage.

The feasibility study completed using these donations will be managed by the foundation and will assess the current state of the building to identify potential future uses.

A steering committee has also been set up and is being led by BHHC member Michael Rosehill.

When the study is complete, a recommendation will be made to be considered by the BHHC board on the future of the building.

The Argus: Since 2004 the venue has been hardly used

The hope is to eventually reopen the closed and "deteriorating" venue to the community.

Susan Conway, chairwoman of BHHC, said: "Brighton and Hove Hebrew Congregation is delighted to be working with the Foundation For Jewish Heritage to find a way forward for the beautiful Middle Street Synagogue which is cherished by the Jewish community.

"We are very grateful to the funders for supporting this crucial feasibility study."

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Steering committee chairman Michael Rosehill said: "I hadn’t appreciated the full significance of Middle Street Synagogue both architecturally and historically.

"The fact that three leading heritage funding bodies have so generously agreed to back this project is a clear demonstration of the significance of the building."

Michael Mail, chief executive of the Foundation For Jewish Heritage, said: "Through the feasibility study we hope to come up with a solution that will bring the building back into regular use and ensure its future."

The synagogue, which opened in 1875 after being designed by Victorian architect Thomas Lainson, was once described as "the jewel in the crown of the Jewish community of the South Coast".

The venue held daily services for years until the Jewish community moved to the suburbs and attendance declined.

The Argus: The building used to hold daily services

Festivals were also held in the building which attracted hundreds of people to the city.

Since 2004, the building has been mostly unused and is now in a deteriorating condition.

Louise Stewart, support officer for London and South East at the Architectural Heritage Fund, said: "We are extremely pleased to be one of three organisations that have awarded funding towards a feasibility study for Middle Street Synagogue.

"We hope that our support will help to find a sustainable future use for this iconic building, ensuring that it continues to play an important role for the Jewish community, as well as the city of Brighton and Hove as a whole, for many generations to come."

No suggestions have yet been made over what the venue could become.