St John the Evangelist Chuch, Goose Green was built on 'the South East corner of the Great Field' - land given by Charles Jasper Selwyn who was an eminent lawyer. The church was designed by Charles Baily and consecrated by the Bishop of Winchester on 16 May 1865. The story of the church is told in St John's, East Dulwich, Church and Parish by Mary Boast. The church was practically destroyed during the Second World War. It was restored and rededicated of 5 May 1951 by the Lord Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev Bartram Simpson, once a choir boy at St John's. In 1994 the Department of National Heritage gave the church a grade II listing. the Goose Green Centre was opened on 11 May 1996 by its patron, Tessa Jowell, MP for Dulwich.

The watercolour pictured here was painted circa 1865 and was purchased at Christie's and is currently on display in Southwark Local Studies Library. The artist was Bosworth, probably Philip A Bosworth who lived in Brixton circa 1867.

We are grateful for permission to reproduce the text here to John D Beasley, from his book East Dulwich, available for £7.95 from South Riding Press, 6 Everthorpe Road, London SE15 4DA.