St Peter's Church, Walworth London SE17
About the Church
During the First World War people used the crypt as a shelter from bombs when Zeppelins came over and raided London. But there were not so many raids as in the second world war. During the Second World War there were many more raids in London, again people used the crypt to shelter from the bombs at night. One night in 1940 three bombs fell on Walworth. Two hit the church, went through the roof, and then through the floor. One exploded in the crypt where people were sleeping. At least sixty-five people died, and many were injured. The other bomb did not explode. There is a memorial to those who lost their lives in the air raid, hanging in the church.
Because the crypt was so well built, the building did not collapse, or there would have been more people killed. The Bechstein piano in the church was hit by the tail-fin of the bomb, but it only knocked a chunk of wood out of the lid. The piano was completely restored in 2003 and is in constant use.
The Church was re-ordered in the early ‘70’s, when the Chancel was cleared of the choir stalls, panelling and pulpit, installed at the end of the nineteenth century. Though the old High Altar was retained, a central altar was added. The church was redecorated in 1982, during this redecoration a new marble sanctuary floor was laid. The redecoration took place using Soane’s original colours. The church was re-dedicated, after the redecoration was completed. Her Majesty the Queen Mother was in attendance for the re-dedication service.
In 2004 the church was completely re-wired, new lighting and a sound/loop system was installed. Following this, the interior was completely redecorated. Some re-ordering and redecorating of the Lady chapel is currently underway, the old pews have been removed and new chairs have been placed in the chapel, and the carpet will also be replaced. Very little of the organ is original, having been rebuilt on several occasions, the case is Soane’s design. We are currently looking at the possibility of having it restored or even replaced.
Saint Peter’s Church was the first of Walworth’s so-called “New Churches”. The foundation stone was laid on 2nd June 1823 by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The architect was Sir John Soane, who was famous as the designer of the Bank of England. When it was built many people did not like the light interior. They thought churches should be dark and gloomy. And as for the idea of placing a weather-cock on top of the steeple instead of a cross.
The building was completed in just under two years, and was consecrated on 28th February 1825. People had to pay for seats - anything from 5 Shillings (25p) to 22 shillings (£1.10) a year for a pew for the whole family. This was quite a lot of money then. They cost more the closer you sat to the heaters.
Working people, and the servants, were given seats upstairs, out of the way of the ‘gentry’. Two small galleries either side of the organ pipes were especially for ‘Charity Children’, whose families were very poor indeed.
By the end of the nineteenth century most people who lived in the area were poor people, living in slums. The parish priest here then, Father Horsley (they didn’t use Christian names of priests in those days, just surnames), was very concerned for the poor. The first thing he did was clear all the gravestones from the churchyard, and make it into a small park. It still is one. It caused a great fuss at the time. Then he tried to do something about the hungry children who lived locally. Having cleared all the lead lined coffins from the crypt, which were then re-interred in Woking Cemetery, he provided free lunches for children from the school, and they were served in the crypt. So they had a school meals service, started in 1895 or thereabouts.
Then he had the new school put up - this is now the ‘old’ part of the building at St Peter’s school, to the east of the churchyard, recently extended. He even set up a small zoo in the rectory garden - people called it the ‘Monkey Park’.
In 2003 refurbishment was completed which completely transformed the crypt into an Arts and Community centre. There is a Café, Meeting Rooms, an IT. Suite and activities for young people. The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev. Dr Rowan Williams, dedicated ‘InSpire’ in the Crypt of St. Peter’s Church, Walworth. The Crypt includes a digital arts and media centre, an IT suite, crèche, conference and performance spaces, a café and meeting rooms. It was officially opened on Friday 31 October 2003 by the Rt. Hon Harriet Harman MP.
The £1.5 million conversion of the crypt was funded by Southwark Council, The Single Regeneration Budget, The Aylesbury New Deal for Communities, The Community Fund and over 30 other grant making trusts.
Among the centre’s regular activities will be computer training, language courses a youth club, bingo, yoga, Salsa lessons and art exhibitions. In addition it will host regular performances of dance, drama and music - a place residents can be proud of, which will offer the chance of life-changing experiences, new skills and a lot of fun!
The Monkey Park has also undergone a complete facelift. The churchyard, once known for its monkeys that Canon Horsley kept, has now been transformed into a lovely garden. The project, supported by Barclays Sitesavers and Groundwork Southwark, has encouraged local people to volunteer in the transformation of the garden.
There is a patio area, raised beds, even a wildlife area as well as many other features. More recently the garden has two new additions. Firstly a Totem Pole. Artists Claire Freer and Elin Solstad worked with children from Surrey Square Primary School to design the ceramic tiles that make up this totem pole. The design was inspired by the architecture and ideas of Sir John Soane. The Totem Pole which will form a permanent sculpture in the garden. This project was funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
The second addition is a new bench. Children from the Aylesbury Young People’s Project have hewn the Monkey Park’s new bench from a great trunk of fallen tree. The design is that of a huge wooden butterfly and it sits in the middle of the community garden.The 8-foot long handywork was unveiled by the Deputy Mayor, Cllr. Lorraine Lauder in August 2005
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