Sacred Heart, Camberwell

Introduction

Sacred Heart Church in Camberwell, within the Archdiocese of Southwark, was built in 1952-8 from designs by D Plaskett Marshall in a moderne style reminiscent of the inter-war churches of Cachemaille-Day.

History

A mission was established at Camberwell in 1860, with Mass said at various locations until the present site by an elevated railway line was acquired. It was rebuilt in 1952-8 on the same site but in a completely different style, and was turned around by 90 degrees with a blind west wall towards the railway line, to minimise noise from that source.

Architecture and furnishings

The church has an unusual staggered plan that reduces in both height and width in four main stages towards the sanctuary from the blind west wall facing the railway. The interior walls are of brown facing bricks and the flooring is of concrete flagstones. The sanctuary has an altar, ambo and tabernacle plinth (all post-Vatican II changes) and communion rails of green Connemara marble, the communion rails set in Belgian black marble. The limestone and granite sanctuary floor was installed in 2004.

The octagonal marble font, with its timber cover, was moved to a central position at the west end in the 1990s. The organ is by Rushworth & Dreaper, rebuilt in 1962 and refurbished in 1993. The west wall of the nave is windowless and slightly bowed, with full-height buttress-fins and a ribbed brick parapet. On the north side is a double-height projecting porch with three doors and corresponding large windows under a canopy.

On the south side fronting Knatchbull Road is a smaller porch for a secondary entrance, alongside a tall asymmetrically-placed brick tower with plain corner buttresses and brick louvres to the bell stage. The side elevations are each of four stepped bays with a large steel-framed multi-pane rectangular clerestory window in each bay. The nave roof appears to be of reinforced concrete with prominent purlins in each bay. The westernmost bay of the nave holds a wide organ gallery with a boarded front.

In the three eastern bays there are four square piers to each bay at lower level, later clad in green Connemara marble, separating the main spaces from side aisles and chapels. The aisles terminate at the east end with chapels of Our Lady and St Joseph. The aisles contain shrines to the Sacred Heart, St Anthony and St Teresa of Lisieux. At the east end is the original tall, tapering maple reredos, set in a shallow niche, with a large crucifix attached and canopy above.

The original baptistery lies on the north side, by the entrance narthex, separated from the western compartment by iron gates. The large, steel-framed multi-paned windows contain opaque plain glass unusually set in copper rather than lead subdivisions. The timber bench seating in the church is original. The new Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal features the largest carved Miraculous Medal in the United Kingdom.

Parish life

The parish is a lively multicultural community of believers in the Archdiocese of Southwark. SHCC YOUTH is designed to help young people ages between 13 and 17 grow their faith, their character, and their relationships. GIFT is a way for families with children aged 5-16 to grow in faith together, adapting to the needs and circumstances of each family.

Regular events

GIFT sessions begin with Mass together, followed by refreshments, family friendly faith teaching and activities, exploring a different topic each month.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish's GIFT team of priests and lay people supports parents in discerning when the time is right to prepare their children for First Holy Communion or Confirmation. After Mass, the GIFT Youth group meets separately for young people of the parish to socialise, ask questions, engage with and grow in faith together.