Parish of St Giles, Camberwell , Church of England

Saint Giles is the ancient ''mother'' church of the parish of Camberwell, which included Peckham and Dulwich. It has stood on the same site since its original construction shortly after the Norman Conquest, being rebuilt in stone in 1154 and surviving until being burned down in 1841. A new church, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, with stained glass windows created by local resident and well known poet and author John Ruskin, was built in 1844.

Camberwell was a farming village surrounded by woods and fields until about 1800, with mineral wells abounding. One of these was supposed to have healing properties and many invalids visited in the hope of a cure. It is probably no coincidence that the church was named after Saint Giles, the patron saint of cripples.