St John The Evangelist Upper Norwood

St John The Evangelist Upper Norwood has long been a sought-after destination for musicians, renowned for its exceptional acoustics that make it a top choice for choral, orchestral, and classical recordings. The church’s unique architectural design allows sound to resonate beautifully, creating a rich, immersive listening experience that has attracted world-class artists and recording professionals alike.

Beyond its reputation as a premier recording venue, St John’s is the perfect setting for a variety of events, including weddings, corporate gatherings, concerts, and theatrical performances. The stunning historic interior provides a breathtaking backdrop, blending traditional elegance with modern versatility. Whether you’re looking to host an intimate wedding ceremony, a grand concert, or a professional corporate event, the space can be adapted to suit a range of requirements.

With ample seating capacity, flexible staging options, and a dedicated team to assist with event planning, St John’s ensures a seamless experience for both performers and guests. Additionally, its central location in Upper Norwood, excellent transport links, and plenty of free parking make it a convenient and accessible choice for all attendees.

For those seeking a venue that combines heritage, beauty, practicality, and outstanding acoustics, St John The Evangelist is truly a standout choice.

The history of St John’s began in the 1870s, when a large temporary iron church was built to serve the newly developed area of Upper Norwood. In October 1875 this church was moved to the current site on the corner of Sylvan Road and Auckland Road. The priests-in-charge were Philip Kingswood and Thomas Helmore, the latter an important figure in the Anglican choral revival.

Early in 1876 it became a parish church, and the first vicar was William Fairbairn La Trobe-Bateman, who began an initiative to clear the church’s debts and raise funds to build a permanent church to replace the iron structure. Never a man to do things by halves, Bateman commissioned John Loughborough Pearson, one of the finest architects of the age, to design a building of cathedral-like proportions. Funded largely by the donations of parishioners, it was completed (except for the spire, never to be built) by 1887.

In the last days of the Second World War the building was hit by several doodlebugs, resulting in extensive damage to the roof. Ever resourceful, the parishioners bricked up the north aisle to serve as a temporary church and set about raising the funds to restore the building to its former glory under the guidance of the formidable priest Eric Bailey. It is to him that we owe both its recovery and much of the financial legacy that remains today.

Early this century the south side of the building started to show signs of movement, which got worse and worse, creating large cracks in the tower and south aisle. Wooden buttresses have stabilized the structure temporarily, and underpinning has recently been undertaken to solve the problem permanently.

If you would like to know more about the history of St John’s, you may enjoy this article by Anthony Ashby, recently published in The Norwood Review.