Dulwich was never an 'ancient' parish like Peckham. It was part of the huge parish of Camberwell, and arguably, the college estate had had a much greater influence on the area than the parish administration.

For worship Dulwich residents owed their allegience to St Giles Church at far off Camberwell Green.

St. Barnabas, which became Dulwich's church, was not built until 1894 and its tower was added just over 10 years later.

The building was destroyed by fire in the late 1990s and has been replaced by an attractive modern structure.