Camberwell has obviously changed a lot since 1086. But there has been a church on the same site as the current building for nearly a 1,000 years – and probably for much longer.

The prefix of Camberwell, “Cam” can be translated as “crooked” and it’s likely that the area had natural Springs.  There’s a possibility that people suffering from ailments might have sought healing in the Springs because the church is named after St Giles, the patron saint of beggars, poor people and people with physical disabilities. The early church mentioned in the Domesday book is considered by some to have dated from within sixty years of the first landing of St. Augustine, or about the middle of the seventh century. It underwent extensive changes during the reign of King Stephen and was rebuilt in stone by William de Mellent, Earl of Gloucester and Lord of the Manor of Camberwell in 1154. Traces of this building probably survived in major rebuilds of the church in 1346 (according to Bishop Edindon’s Register at Winchester) and during the reign of Henry VIII. Before Henry’s reign, the vicars of the parish were appointed by the Abbey of Bermondsey until its dissolution.

In 1841 a fire broke out that destroyed the medieval church. Within weeks, a fund had been set up to rebuild it. George Gilbert-Scott, the architect most famous for designing St. Pancras Station, and who’s grandson created Tate Modern and the famous red telephone boxes, was commissioned to design the new church. To find out more, click on the link ‘1841 Fire’ below.