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 a fire 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