History

For four centuries Christ's Chapel has served as a place of worship in Dulwich. It was conceived as the focus for the College of God's Gift, founded by Edward Alleyn but equally welcoming to the local community which has played a vital role in its life. It stands right in the centre of this community, built on what was once the village green.

The building of the chapel began in 1613 and it was consecrated in 1616. It formed part of the College, which included almshouses for six poor men and six poor women and a school for twelve poor scholars., which recieved Letters Patent in 1619. it was the gift of the celebrated Elizabethan and Jacobean actor and contemporary of Shakespeare, Edward Alleyn.

The George England organ (1760)

The present organ, built by George England in 1760, is only the second since the Chapel was consecrated. The first was so severely damaged in the Civil. War that it has to be substantially rebuilt by George Dalham, organ maker, the work being completed in 1669,

George England was a distinguished organ builder and ten examples of his work survive. Dr William McVickers, in his account of the restoration of the organ in 2009, says that the casework remains unique in the history of England case design. There are elements which betray the influence of French furniture manufacture and it is a rare example of an early Gothic Revival case with three gilded spires, one surmounted by the representation of a pineapple, the others by flames. It has the unusual feature of colour-reversed keys. Substantial restorations were carried out in 1888, 1908 and 1969.

In 2009 William Drake reconstructed and restored the organ. During the work George England's Vox Humana stop was rediscovered.

Artwork on display

The Transfiguration After Raphael, c.1520-99, a very large oil painting, is a copy of Raphael’s altarpiece now in the Pinacoteca Vaticana, Rome. Ascribed either to Julio Romano, or Pierino del Vaga, it combines two passages from the Gospel of St Mark (Chapter 9): the Transfiguration of Jesus in the presence of Moses and Elias, witnessed by Peter, and the miracle of Jesus curing an epileptic boy as He comes down from the mountain.

About the charity

Christ’s Chapel of God’s Gift at Dulwich is a registered charity in England and Wales (no. 1057970). The charity and its property are administered and managed by The Dulwich Estate (registered charity no. 312751).

Christ’s Chapel is a place of public worship located within the Parish of St Barnabas. It is also used as a place of worship by the residents of the Dulwich Almshouse and for a number of local schools supported by the Dulwich Estate (Alleyn’s School, Dulwich College and James Allen’s Girls’ School). Public worship is the responsibility of the Parish of St Barnabas, whose vicar is the Reverend Liz Barnett.