Valentine Singers were very please to provide the vocal music for the Barnardo’s thanksgiving service that was held on 15 September 2009 in the church at the traditional home of Barnardo’s in Barkingside. Despite heavy rain!! there was a fine representation from the choir to sing Pitoni: Cantate Domino and Schubert: Sanctus from the Deutsche Messe, and support the singing of the hymns.
A little of the history of the site and the church
Barnardo and his wife, Syrie, were given a home in Barkingside, Essex, as a wedding gift, where he created a 60-acre village with the vision of creating a way of life for destitute children that resembled village life. In 1876 on the 9th July, The Girls Village Home was officially opened with 12 cottages by the then Lord Cairns. In the same year a modern steam laundry was opened. Over the years the number of cottages grew to a total of 66 in 1906 housing some 1,300 girls which was spread over the three Village greens covering some 60 acres which was next to Mossford Lodge at Barkingside, Ilford, Essex that had been opened in 1873; by 1894 a multi-denominational Children's Church was opened with a dedication service.
I would be interested to know if anyone knows when the Barnardos 'village' at Woodford Bridge - which comprised several residential cottages set, individually, on their own little 'village greens' - was established. I remember visiting a school-mate (from Sir George Monoux G.S. at Walthamstow) at 'Garden City' as it was known, several times in the late 1950s. He lived with (I'm guessing) a dozen other children and the house-parents for his particular cottage. Memories are hazy - sadly, he died fairly recently - but my recollection is of a beautifully laid-out village with 'arts and crafts' style cottages and lots of leafy greenery. 'Garden City' was sold off to developers - can anyone remrmber when ? - and is now a housing estate (pre Repton Park.)
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