Camberwell: St George (closed)
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 330 776
The oldest church in Camberwell, this is a Grecian Commissioners' church. It is closely allied to Bedford's later church of St John, Waterloo Road, both of them are among the so-called 'Waterloo churches'. A church of simple, strong and distinguished design. The walls are of brick faced with Bath stone externally, except for the walls of the 1893 extension and the basement walls beneath a stone plinth which are of brick unadorned.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Description of Archaeology and History
The oldest church in Camberwell, this is a Grecian Commissioners' church. It is closely allied to Bedford's later church of St John, Waterloo Road, both of them are among the so-called 'Waterloo churches'.
Exterior Description
A church of simple, strong and distinguished design. The walls are of brick faced with Bath stone externally, except for the walls of the 1893 extension and the basement walls beneath a stone plinth which are of brick unadorned.
The chief architectural interest of the church lies in the exterior and especially in the hexastyle Doric portico and the three-storey high square tower behind it. The columns of the portico are of the usual Greek Revival kind - without bases but with emphatic fluting and pronounced entasis. The whole portico is raised up, temple-like, above a flight of steps and has a frieze of myrtle wreaths. The tower has a solid base, the centre of the faces pierced for the clock, a second and third storey with Doric and Ionic orders of columns and entablatures respectively and acroteria: the top is a table-tomb (or altar) like construction with acroteria and a finial surmounted by a cross.
The main roof covering is of copper, and the roof of the apse is finished with asphalt.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is galleried north, south and west - the west gallery being fairly deep to contain the handsome neo-classical organ case. The galleries are supported by Doric columns and the gallery fronts have painted decoration which is presumably that devised by Basil Champneys in 1909 (as recorded in the inscribed tablet in the north-west'cornerof the nave). Champneys raised up a choir five steps higher than the nave and constructed the screened Lady Chapel to the north and vestry to the south - the screens of high quality and also with painted decoration. Paintings of angels appear in the spandrels of the eastern arch, also of the Champneys period, and the architectural Reredos was no doubt designed by him. Choir and sanctuary have floors of different coloured marbles, added by Champneys.
The ceiling is divided into panels, in the centre of which are large rosettes, and otherwise the only decorative features of the design are the frieze (with anthemionornament) and the pilasters which are placed between the windows and linked to the ceiling by magnificent voluted consoles. The final feature to be noted is a structural one: the roof over the nave is constructed with heavy Queen post trusses of 60 feet clear span.
The walls are plastered, expcept for those of the 1893 extension, which are unadorned brick. Beneath the nave is an extensivebrick-vaulted crypt and the floor of the nave is handsomely paved with stone flags.
Fixtures and fittings
Font (object)
Neo-classical design, in marble with a baluster stem.
Sedilia
Wooden, fiexd to the wall in the Lady Chapel.
Table
Gothic, in the Lady Chapel.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 330 776
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
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