St Bartholomew's Church, Sydenham

Have you ever stepped inside your parish church of Saint Bartholomew? Perhaps its main claim to fame is that it features in Camille Pissarro’s 1871 painting ‘Une Rue a Sydenham’, now in the National Gallery. But the inside of the church is also worth a look.

St Bart’s was built between 1827 and 1832 to provide a place of worship for the growing population of Sydenham using money from a fund set up to build churches in celebration of the victory at Waterloo. Designed by the architect Mr Lewis Vulliamy, the church was consecrated on 30 August 1832.

The inside of the new church was very different from now. It had a plain ceiling, tiny clerestory windows and pillars of brick and plaster. There were old fashioned pews with doors and a small gallery with an organ over the western entrance, from which children of the National Schools led the singing. There was no chancel and no choir. The parish clerk's desk, clergy desk and pulpit rose one above the other in a form known as a "three-decker" and the Church was lit by candles.

In 1857 a chancel and vicar's vestry were added, designed by Edwin Nash. There was also a reredos and some ornamental panels beneath the East window. The Bishop of London, who consecrated the extension, disapproved of some of the decoration, which was later removed.

In 1873 Mr Nash discovered that the roof timbers were rotten and recommended immediate reconstruction. For safety reasons, the church had to be closed, providing an opportunity for further improvements. The roof was replaced entirely by the present open timber roof, larger windows put in; the three-decker pulpit was replaced by the present one and new pews installed. The choir stalls and clergy desks were added with their carved figures of St. Bartholomew and the four evangelists. The gallery was dismantled and the organ re-built at the East end. New nave columns and arcades were built with carved heads on the capitals. The Crystal Palace Gas Company installed gas lighting. The transformed church, now much as it appears today, was re-dedicated on 25th March 1874.

By the end of 1883 the short north aisle, choir vestry and south porch had been added, and the chancel floor raised and covered with mosaic. A new reredos, designed by Henry Wilson, was completed in 1910, though some felt that the style was out of keeping with the rest of the church. Electric light was installed in 1913, enabling everyone to enjoy these new internal beauties.

After World War I the south aisle was furnished as a Memorial Chapel, with an oak screen and panelling added in 1924. During the Second World War the church suffered war damage and the old stained glass was shattered. Restoration began in 1945: some of the remaining old glass was composed into a small window high up in the east end of the north aisle. The other windows were replaced by modern designs by Mr. Francis Spear and dedicated in May 1954. That same year, St Bartholomew’s was listed as a building of special architectural or historic interest. In 2001 a new nave altar was dedicated, designed by Karen Butti to complement the style of the east window.

Yes, it is worth stepping inside to see one of the most impressive buildings in Sydenham. Spy out the gilded angels in the chancel roof; decide whether you like the reredos (behind the altar) or think it is over the top; marvel at the light and space, and the peace. And do this while you can. Because the electricity, installed in 1913 and maintained on a piecemeal basis for the last 93 years, has recently been inspected and is not up to scratch. You may know how much it would cost you to rewire your house. Now think about a bigger building, a much bigger building……

So we need to launch a fund-raising campaign. And that is what we are planning. But while you can, do step inside, just in case we have to close again for safety reasons.