|
Sydenham's most famous
church - and a costly one!
St Bart's was built for
£10,000 in 1832 with the aid of a government grant to sponsor religion
rather than revolutionary thinking amongst the proletariat. Camille Pissarro
painted it in 1871 and the tax payer forked out another £650,000 in 1984
to buy the painting for the National Gallery. Click
for the National Gallery Description
Today it hosts a regular
congregation of around 150 with a 'middle of the road' liturgy and practice. St
Bart's also is host to the Sydenham Music Festival with a surprisingly good
acoustic for a chamber orchestra. The 'Orchestra of St Bartholomew' is a
professional ensemble of players mostly drawn from the major London orchestras.
The vicar is chair of Sydenham Music which sponsors major classical music
events in Sydenham and elsewhere in Lewisham. Click for the Sydenham Music
Website.
The church has a
remarkable Reredos and a wide aisle which makes it popular for weddings. One
reason for the church's popularity is that 'regular attendence' may help secure
a place at St Bart's CoE School - rebuilt in the 1960s at Peak Hill. Click here for the St Bart's
Website |
