Charlotte Araya Moreland spent a week as a summer intern at London community centre, Pembroke House, and writes about their projects, the volunteers, and the local area.
Many Cambridge students come from London,
Pembroke House was established in 1885
but not many of them come from Walworth,
by a group of alumni from Pembroke
just south east of the Thames. Sandwiched between Elephant and Castle and Peckham,
College, as part of a wider Settlement Movement by Oxbridge colleges in
two areas of London swept well along the tide
London. At the time, it was seen as a
of gentrification, Walworth’s deprivation is clear to the eye of an outsider – as are its still
radical form of philanthropy, offering community and charity services in
present traditional working-class roots.
combination with a Christian mission – and
At the time, it was seen as a radical form of philanthropy, offering community and charity services in combination with a Christian mission
it was also a way of impressing upon young gentlemen their duty to the working classes. While Oxford colleges set up missions in the East End, Cambridge established theirs in South London. The Christian mission of Pembroke House is now the role of St Christopher’s Church,
Walking through the neighbourhoods of Old Kent Road and the Aylesbury Estate, it’s easy
which uses the building’s chapel on Sundays for worship. Pembroke House
to see that this is not a place which inspires
itself welcomes, and is staffed by, people
confidence and Oxbridge-ambitions in many of its young people. Yet, it is by no means an
from all faiths and none. One of the centre’s volunteers, Tom Seery, told me
unfriendly area. I can sense that people
that he felt there was a definite sense of
sometimes give me a second glance, but this is more because I am wandering around
spirituality in Pembroke House’s work, which makes it feel special – even if it
looking lost in a residential neighbourhood. I could easily be just another resident of the new shiny blocks from around the corner.
doesn’t censor any of the conversation in the weekly ‘Lunch Club’ for the over-60s.
Or, as is the case, a volunteer at Pembroke House, the missionturned-community-centre which straddles Tatum and Huntsman Streets.
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PEMBROKE HOUSE
