Camberwell, Sacred Heart

The mission was opened on Easter Monday 1860, when Mass was said at De Crespigny Lodge, Denmark Hill, by the late Fr. Claude Bernin, of Lyons. The district was then largely one of strawberry fields and market gardens. The next chapel was at Chepstow Cottage, which also served as the presbytery. This in turn was superseded by a chapel formed out of two or three cottages in Thomas Street, now Becket Street.

A lay committee ably managed the temporalities of the mission, and a flourishing school was commenced under Mr. William Geoghegan. In 1862 a temporary church was erected at a cost of £'600, and opened by Bishop Morris. Fr. Bernin left in 1864, and for a time the church was served on Sundays by Fr. Power, afterwards of Canterbury. The next rector, Fr. Ed. Cahill, enlarged the church, and introduced the Sisters of Notre Dame as teachers in the girls' and infants' schools. The temporary church of 1862 was replaced by the present one in the Camberwell New Road, opened by Bishop Morris, February 16, 1870. [...]

A second aisle and clerestory to the church were opened by Bishop Danell, August 12, 1872, the sermon being preached by Arclibishop Manning. The presbytery, for three priests, was completed in 1875. Fr. McGrath, under whom these building developments were carried out, was appointed to the mission in 1869, and in 1882 became Canon of Southwark. He removed to Weybridge 1898, when he was succeeded by Canon W. Murnane, of Red Cross Street, the present rector.

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