Parish of St John the Divine, Kennington , Church of England

Saint John the Divine originated in a mission established in a school, in response to rapid population growth in this area of Kennington from the 1860s onwards. In 1867-1868 a new building was constructed, with a ground floor room acting as the church and the upper floor as a school. In 1871 a site on Vassall Road was obtained, designs for a permanent church were commissioned from architect George Edmund Street, and building began. Part of the church was completed by 1873 but completion was delayed until an anonymous gift of £10,000 allowed the construction of the nave to go ahead. The church was consecrated in November 1874. A tower and spire were added in 1888. The church has been described as a masterpiece of the Gothic revival movement. The building was damaged by bombing during the Second World War, although restoration was begun in 1955.

Source of information: 'Brixton: Lambeth Wick estate', Survey of London: volume 26: Lambeth: Southern area (1956), pp. 108-122.