A church given a second chance after a devastating fire.
For the next stop on our architecture tour of the local area we’re off to the impressive Cathedral-like building of All Saints’ Church, West Dulwich. Indeed, it was originally intended to be the cathedral for south London when it was built in the 1890s – hence why it’s so huge and dominates the landscape around.
The church stood very happily on the site for over a hundred years, until 9 June 2000 when a huge fire – the cause of which remains unknown today – ripped through the building and gutted the internal structures. Only the Victorian walls remained standing and the now ruined church was open to the sky.
But the congregation decided that All Saints’ should be restored. After a fundraising campaign, a huge amount of work and a three-year rebuilding programme the church opened its doors again at Easter 2006.
What’s intriguing about visiting this building is the striking juxtaposition of the old and the new. The walls and pillars inside the nave of the church have been deliberately left, showing the scars from the flames.
This large, lumbering gothic structure must have been rather dark and gloomy inside, previously. But now it is filled with light – from the huge windows which allow sunlight to stream in, and from the modern lighting fixtures which hang delicately from the ceiling. In some places the modern LEDs and halogen bulbs create the gentle effect of candlelight – easily combining the ancient with the modern.
And then there’s a massive metal structure, which sits high up above the congregation, affording views over the whole church. I must admit to a small twinge of nerves as I walked out over the boards, but it’s from up there that the blending of the old church with new technologies and materials is perhaps best appreciated.
There’s also a reminder of All Saints’ journey through fire on display in the middle of the church – a cross made of charred beams from the old roof.
The structure of the church has been brought up to date as well, meaning that the main space – and the crypt beneath – can be used to hold concerts and other events.
The beautiful and imaginative reinvention of this building is just as apparent from outside the church as it is inside. The west end of the church has been completely remodelled with a large, modern brick and glass extension. The line where the old structure meets the new extension is clearly visible, but it’s not as if it’s a harsh add-on to the existing building. The new areas of the build are, to my eye, incredibly sensitively planned. They bring an air of modern grace and charm to an already handsome and imposing Victorian structure. 
It’s the perfect combination of Ancient & Modern.
For more information about the church and service times, see their website: www.all-saints.org.uk/.
Images: with thanks to super snapper Ingrid. Other photos of the church are available to view on the DOV flickr page.
