St John's was built in 1865 to serve an area undergoing rapid development
from fields to streets, largely as a result of the coming of the railways
which made East Dulwich an ideal suburb for commuters to central London.
It replaced a smaller East Dulwich Chapel, erected in 1826 in Lordship Lane. Its style is Victorian Gothic, with tower and spire. The architect was Charles Barry, nephew of a local landowner,
founder of the former chapel. St John's was the only church wholly
designed by him although he merited an entry in the Dictionary of
National Biography as 'architect and archaeologist'. His main work
was on Guildhall as assistant to the architect of the City of London.
The church was badly damaged by bombing in 1940 and out of use until 1951 when it was rededicated by the bishop of Southwark. Architect for the restoration was J.B. Sebastian Comper. He heightened the nave and added a clerestory and also whitened the interior. Victorian stained glass lost in the war was mostly replaced by clear glass. As a result the church now presents a light and bright appearance. There are however stained glass windows by J.B.S. Comper in the apse and by his more famous father, Ninian Comper in the Lady Chapel. These latter were executed by John Bucknall who also designed the glass in two windows of the north aisle. Pre-war glass by the firm of C.E. Kempe survives in two windows of the south aisle. The church is now a listed building.
Large fund-raising efforts in recent years have resulted in the erection of an important extension to the church building, the Goose Green Centre for Church and Community, opened in 1996. The architect designed it in a style to harmonise with the Victorian appearance of the church. The Centre is now in regular use by the church and by many local organisations.