Cambden Church, 1904 |
It had stood on a plot of land just west of what is now Oliver Goldsmith Primary School and has one of those fascinating histories which just make you wish you had been there when a group of evangelical Christians frustrated at the new vicar of St Giles decided to break away and build their own church.
Camden Church, 1872 |
The west front towards the road contains the three principal entrances and has a horizontal parapet. Camden chapel, built in 1795, and subsequently enlarged, is a handsome edifice of brick, with a campanile turret."*
But in the way these things work within just 50 years St Giles just up the road would have the satisfaction of seeing the secessionist usurper become an Anglican chapel of ease and in another fifteen years a parish church.
The message sent on December 5, 1904 |
Despite this the vestry and crypt were repaired and services continued until 1952 with baptisms and marriages continuing until 1951.
So it is possible that I could have gone there, but only just. The church finally closed in the spring of 1952 and was demolished that year.
All of that was a long way into the future when E sent Miss B Strong of Lewes in Sussex this picture postcard with the message that “as far as I know the funeral is to on Saturday,” and an offer to get a wreath for Beatrice. Adding that “I saw him yesterday, he is quite natural.”
Detail of the church, 1904 |
It’s a long shot but I think I shall go looking and in time I am also minded to find out a bit more about Mr Flint who took the picture and marketed it from his offices at Church Street which was just round the corner.
Just a decade later he was no longer at nu 68 Church Street and his were being sold by Tuck & Son.
All of which begs lots of questions and opens up avenues of research.
Picture; Camden Church Peckham Road, circa 1904, Albert Flint Photographer and Publisher, 68 Church Street, Camberwell in the series Camberwell, marked by Tuck and Sons, and reproduced courtesy of Tuck DB, https://tuckdb.org/ and Peckham Road, 1872, from the OS for London 1872, courtesy of Digital Archives Association, http://www.digitalarchives.co.uk/
* Victoria County History, History of the County of Surrey: Volume 4 H.E. Malden (editor), 1912
**Camden Church, Parish Churches - Church of England, http://www.peckhamhistory.org.uk/churchesCofE.htm
I remember this church. When I was a child my cousin and I found a way into the main part which was bomb damaged.i recall there were lights on line flexes hanging from the ceiling. My cousin picked up a piece of broken roof slate and threw it at one of the lights, it flew round, missed the light and came down hitting my leg. I still have the scar. After it was demolished it became part of the Sceaux Gardens estate.
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