St Stephen’s Church - South Dulwich

JUST PUBLISHED!
READ MICHAEL GOODMAN’S NEW HISTORY

The Story of St Stephen’s, South Dulwich, A Beacon in Times of Peace and War

The History of the Building and the People who lived and worshipped there 1868-2007

St Stephen’s Church and, in particular, its notable spire has been a  landmark in Dulwich ever since the Church was painted by the famous French Impressionist, Camille Pissarro in 1870, two years after its Consecration.

The Church was built to meet the needs of the growing population in South Dulwich following the establishment of the Crystal Palace on the top of Sydenham Hill and the arrival of the railway which made its way in a tunnel under Crystal Palace en route to Chatham and Dover

Designed by Charles Barry jun (the son of the architect of the Houses of Parliament), the Church was of considerable beauty and was richly decorated in the Victorian Gothic style beloved of Pugin and Ruskin, as can be seen from a contemporary painting, probably the work of Barry himself

The Church met the needs of the growing community south of the newly-built Dulwich College (also deigned by Barry) and Dulwich Woods became the setting for many fine houses. Shortly after the completion of the building Sir Edward Poynter executed the fine fresco in the chancel commemorating the Trial and Stoning of St Stephen

Over the years the Church was further beautified and enlarged. In particular there is a fine east window by the renowned stained glass makers C.E.Kempe & Co, erected in memory of his wife in 1924 by Lord Vestey, the owner of Kingswood House which lies close to the Church.

Despite serious war damage caused by V1 ‘flying bombs’ in l944, the building was saved, though not without anxious moments in 1946 when the walls began to lean outwards. This was the result of the pressure exerted on them by the roof which had almost been lifted off the building by the bomb blast. An ingenious proposal by a young builder to squeeze the walls together by the use of jacks  resulted in the walls being restored to their original position, since when they have been held together by unobtrusive tie bars inserted at intervals along the nave. This  work was described in The Builder magazine as a ‘miracle’.

The rich decoration of the interior of the Church was largely restored to mark the Church’s centenary and, more recently, there has been successful and sensitive re-ordering with a nave altar

The Book contains an account of the contributions made by parishioners to the Life of the Church over the past  hundred and thirty years and the relationship with the Dulwich Estate . Music has always been a major feature of worship at St Stephen’s and a fine new organ  has recently been installed at the west end of the building

Copies of this book are obtainable from St Stephen’s Church, College Road, London SE21 7HN . The price is £7 including postage and cheques should be made out to St Stephen’s PCC. The book may also be purchased at The Art Stationers and Village Books in Dulwich Village, at Dulwich Books in Croxted Road and at other local booksellers.