In the beginning...

The population of Dulwich increased considerably during the first half of the nineteenth century, and
by 1850 it was felt by many of the inhabitants that they should have their own Church. In November
1890 the Bishop of Rochester wrote to Howard Nixon, Vicar of Kingston-upon-Thames, asking him to
become the curate in charge of the new ecclesiastical district of Dulwich. Nixon accepted, and the
following year a new iron building was built at the present junction of Calton Avenue and Woodwarde
Road. William Mahon became the first Chairman of the Building Committee (and later the first
Churchwarden), and a site was chosen on top of a hill, so that the Church would dominate the Dulwich
skyline. The Estates Governors were pleased to give the ground for both church and vicarage
alongside the playing fields of the recently created Alleyn's School, and donated £2,500 towards the
original Church cost of £20,500.

 

Main building

The architect chosen was W H Wood of Newcastle upon-Tyne, the master builder was J W Bowman of
Stamford, and most of the construction work was carried out by Dove Brothers of Islington. The
foundation stone was laid by the Duchess of Teck (mother of the late Queen Mary) on 28th July 1892,
and the main Church was completed by St. Barnabas Day 1894. The building was 46 metres in length
and measured 18½ metres to the ridge of the roof, which was of uniform height over the nave and
chancel. It was constructed in the "perpendicular gothic" style which had prevailed in this country
during the fifteenth century, and was copied considerably during the Victorian era. The red bricks
used came from Cranleigh in Surrey, some stone was brought from Bath and some was supposed to
come from Mansfield, but it later turned out that an inferior substitute stone had been used without
the knowledge of the Building Committee. Twelve sandstone columns supported the roof,
representing the twelve Apostles as pillars of the church. The original slates were from
Timberthwaite near Coniston. The organ was dedicated in 1897 to commemorate the Diamond
Jubilee of Queen Victoria. 

Tower

A decision to build a tower to complete the Church was taken in 1906. However, because of the
unexpectedly high cost of the estimates received, the specifications for the tower were altered -
including a reduction of the thickness of the brick walls by nine inches each way and the omission of
some windows to save on stone. The tower was eventually completed at a cost of £5,000 and was
dedicated on 22 February 1908, together with the baptistery situated beneath it. It stood just over
27 metres high, and commanded a fine view of the southern parts of Greater London. A peal of bells
had been offered to the Church but, because of the alterations to the original plan made by the Parish Council, the tower was not strong
enough to hold them. So the parishioners were called to worship by the same small bell that had been used in the iron building some
seventeen years earlier.

 

                                               Changes

                                               In 1957 Canon Brown retired and was replaced by Arthur Perry. During his period of office changes were made, 
                                               to coincide with the Dulwich Millennium celebrations of 1967. The rood screen was moved from the chancel
                                               steps to the rear of the nave, and the altar brought forward to the centre of the sanctuary.

 

                                               Richard Lewis became Vicar in 1979 after the retirement of Canon Perry, and three years later further changes
                                               were made. The altar was brought forward to the front of the chancel and the old choir pews were placed along
                                               the side of the chancel, which was to contain a new carved oak font. The old stone font was taken outside and
                                               placed below the east window at the rear of the Church. The pulpit
                                               came off its pedestal, the old baptistery under the tower disappeared
                                               and modern glass doors were placed behind the great west door to
                                               create a draught-proof screen. Half the old Victorian pews were sold
                                               and replaced by modern chairs, and the rood screen was made to
                                               serve as a division between a "gathering area" at the rear of the
Church and the pews and chairs. Finally in the late 1980s the Barnabas Centre was built, south of and
communicating with the south aisle. The Centre and the wall of the south aisle are the only remaining
parts of the old Church.

 

In 1990 Canon Lewis was appointed Dean of Wells, and was succeeded as Vicar of St. Barnabas by
Richard Cattley. In December 1992 the church was completely destroyed by arson and a new church
was dedicated to the glory of God in October 1996.  This church, like its predecessor, has been
'built for the future'.

 

Based on the booklet "The Church that stood on the Hill" by Arthur R Chandler,

available from Reception at the Church of St. Barnabas, Dulwich © Arthur Chandler 1993