A short history

A local church for a new community

At the beginning of the 19th Century North Peckham was mostly fields and market gardens. However with the opening of the Surrey Canal and the development of the South Metropolitan Gas Works the population began to grow. As a result a new parish was carved out of the parish of St. Giles Camberwell in 1837. In 1838 a church was built by the edge of the Canal at the end of Ruby Street, behind the present day Kentucky Fried Chicken. It was initially called St Thomas’, but by 1842 the name had been changed to Christ Church.

A new location and a new building

The rapid expansion of the Gas Works led to the demolition of the original building after only 30 years, and in 1868 a new church was built on the present site on the Old Kent Road next to the Livesey Museum. It was designed by E Bassett Keeling and built in the amazingly short time of nine months, including the spire! Not everyone was impressed, however; in 1875 it was described by a local historian as a “large and lofty structure, the reverse of handsome, having poor windows and a peculiar tower”. All probably true, but it has been a centre of spiritual life long after more elegant structures have disappeared!

A baptism of fire

In September 1941 the Luftwaffe struck. The church was badly damaged by fire bombs. Apparently local people living in Ruby Street braved the flames, trying to rescue what they could from the fire, but much was destroyed and the church remained a ruin for fifteen years. Only the halls on the South Side and to the rear of the church could be used. A small congregation with a ruined building in a poor area: could this be the end of Christ Church? It was not. God was faithful and provided funds, people, vision and skill to rebuild the church with halls, kitchen etc. inside the original shell so that it could be easily adapted to the changing needs of the area. In the last decade, the interior has been further modernised to provide a welcoming and comfortable space in which to meet.

Change

All change and no change

Christ Church has been constantly changing its name, location, building, style of services and people, but what we stand for has not changed in 162 years. By God’s grace we will continue to be a local church that seeks to help Peckham people follow Christ and who serves the local area.

A local church

A local church for local people

The church however is not a building; it is people who follow Jesus Christ and because of that Christ Church has always been committed to the local area.

In the 19th Century we were at the forefront of the drive to improve the educational opportunities available in Peckham. The church started an infant’s school in Arthur Street (now the Ledbury Estate) that eventually grew into the modern-day Camelot School.It ran another infant school on the site of the present vicarage in Asylum Road.

During much of the 20th Century the church was active in supporting and providing youth activities such as scouts, guides and youth clubs. This work was carried on despite many difficulties caused by the war, the massive redevelopment and the high turnover of vicars between 1927 and 1965 (One of whom, Ron Francis, was tragically killed in a car crash in 1949 while taking parish children on holiday).

During the 1970’s and 80’s the church came close to closure, but due to faith and perseverance of the vicar – Mr Davis – the church survived and today is stronger in numbers, faith and commitment to help local people of all races and backgrounds discover the joy of knowing Christ.

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