ST. CLEMENT’S CHURCH, NOTTING HILL.
St. Clement’s, Notting-hill, situated close to the Lancaster-road and the Potteries, is a very noticeable structure—as simple, indeed, as it is possible to be, yet treated with much good feeling and power. The style is early English in a rather modest form, plain lancets and gables, without decoration or carving. As a faithful example of the style, however, it is worthy of notice; and it may be observed that a permanent structure, plainly and simply, and therefore cheaply treated, is at all times preferable to temporary iron buildings, often unworthy to be called churches, but which far too often are allowed to be anything but temporary. The nave and chancel and aisles have an unbroken line of roof and ridge, save that at their intersection a small spire or bell-turret rises square on plan, and like the roof is covered with slate. The gables and facials add importance to the structure.
The building is of yellow brick with red bands and stone dressings, and the construction of the roof might be noted as being peculiarly light and elegant in appearance. Mr. St. Aubyn was the architect, and was certainly successful in producing a building well adapted for hearing and seeing the officiating clergy. The ventilation is excellent. The nave and aisles are separated by wooden posts or iron columns supporting the roofs, taking the place of the ordinary arcades. The furniture of the church is in keeping with its general character, and the floors are paved with tiles. The cost of the whole was 5,500l. There is a very sweet-toned organ by Holdich, but we are sorry to learn it is not the property of the church, but hired. As, however, it can be acquired for the sum of 300l., or probably something less, we hope it will not be long before the congregation will own it. It is ably played by Mr. F. K. Blanch, who is assisted in the musical parts of the service by a very efficient surpliced choir. The cast of the service generally is semi-Anglican; the prayers are read and nothing is intoned by the clergy; but all the responses are sung by the choir and the congregation. The worship appears carefully guarded against the peculiarities of High Churchism, without falling into the other extreme, and we must confess the performance struck us as being hearty and devout, as it regarded both the clergy and the congregation. The present ministers are the Rev. Arthur Dalgarno Robinson, M.A., of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, vicar, the Rev. E. J. Venning, M.A., of Worcester College, Oxford, and the Rev. Herbert Rowsell, M.A., of St. John’s College, Cambridge, curates. We had the pleasure of hearing the Rev. Vicar himself, who, in the absence of his curates taking their holiday, had all the duty to himself. Mr. Robinson has a clear and pleasant voice, distinctly heard in every part of the church. He reads with remarkable propriety and effect, a matter of first importance in a clergyman. In the sermon, which was read, and founded on Deut. iv. 22, referring to the last words of the great Jewish lawgiver, and to his not being permitted to cross over into the land of promise, but to die in that land, the preacher gave evidence of careful study, imaginative powers, and deep feeling. The remarks were highly instructive, and specially consolatory to the Christian chastened in tribulation and disappointed of his earthly hopes. The Rev. A. D. Robinson has been incumbent from the foundation of the church, which was opened for Divine Service and consecrated by the Lord Archbishop of Armagh on Tuesday, the 7th May, 1867. It was erected for a district, perhaps the poorest in all the Western districts, and containing a population according to the recent census of 20,000. It supplies 900 sittings, the whole of which are free, and has an average congregation of from 600 to 700. It is noteworthy that, though in the midst of so poor a neighbourhood as the Potteries and vicinity, the congregation in the morning does not by any means appear of the poorer order, but in the evening many of the poor are to be seen enjoying the services. The Argyle family, and others from the wealthier parts of the parish of Kensington, have taken a warm interest in the St. Clement’s cause with regard to the peculiar population around. But that people have not yet shown great appreciation of these Christian efforts. Yet a good work is doing. There is the church, in which we are glad to believe the Gospel is preached, and into which any poor man can freely enter. There is a mission-woman working about among the poorest, both in body and soul; but she sadly needs a co-labourer in this useful department of Christian work. There are, too, we are pleased to add, very capital day and Sunday-schools, where about 700 of the children of the poor are receiving a sound religious and elementary education for the modest fees of 3d. and 2d. per week. There is, therefore, the hope that St. Clement’s will be, more and more, the centre of Christian civilisation and religious influence to that needy neighbourhood which it was originally intended to be. We heartily wish that the Rev. Mr. Robinson could obtain what the particular work in which he has embarked really deserves and demands—viz., a larger amount of general recognition and support from the outside public. As the case now stands, he must often look around him and say, “Truly the harvest is great, but the labourers are few.” There is a small endowment on the church, to which the proceeds of a weekly offertory are added. As both sources of income, however, are at present small, they can barely suffice to keep up the work even to its present standard. We are assured that a little more material support would be highly acceptable and useful, well bestowed, and gratefully felt and acknowledged at St. Clement’s.
HORBURY CHAPEL
Stands at the fork of two roads—the Kensington-park-road and Ladbroke-road—and looks effective and well, which is partly owing to its open position, and partly to the grey and sombre appearance of the stone of which it is built, and rendered darker, too, by the effect of London atmosphere and a little age. The detail is not very good. The south front is the principal feature, composed of a high-pitched gable and two square flanking towers and dwarf tile spires. The towers are relieved with windows, simple arcade work, weather bands and strings, and oversailing and corbelled courses, and each has a gallery entrance. The gable has a terminal with a large window of fair design, and divided into four lights. The chief entrance to the chapel is also in this front, approached by steps. The interior is simple—roofed in one span with light open timbers, and ribs on stone corbels. Galleries on iron columns surround three sides of the chapel, parts of which in the transepts are set apart for the schools, a large pulpit and railed platform, with table and stalls, is at the north end, and the body of the chapel is filled with close pews.
The Horbury Chapel and congregation date from the year 1849; and the 21st year of their existence was celebrated in 1870 by the erection of side galleries and by other improvements, at a cost of about 950l. Horbury Chapel enterprise was an off-shoot from Hornton-street Congregational Church, under the care of the Rev. Dr. Stoughton. The Rev. W. Roberts, B.A., is the minister, and enjoys the reputation of an able and judicious pastor of his flock. There is accommodation for nearly 1,000 worshippers, and the congregation averages from 550 to 650. The pew-rents yield about 500l. per annum, and the weekly offerings 120l. There are excellent day-schools attached, with 400 children on the books, and an attendance of 300; also a Sunday-school, with an attendance of about 200. There is an out-school, too, in Notting-dale, with 115 under instruction and a ragged-school in Ernest-street, which is eminently useful in collecting together a class of children who would not otherwise be cared for. 100 are in attendance at the infant day-school, and 50 at the night school, and there are 50 in a Sunday-night school. There is a penny bank established in connection with the ragged-school, and last year there were deposits to the amount of 278l. 8s. 10d. At a mothers’ meeting there are usually in attendance thirty persons. Following the example of the parent congregational church in Hornton-street, the Horbury is aggressive in its labours. The increasing population about Acton has attracted its attention. A new chapel is built there, and it is hoped that a large congregation will shortly be gathered into it. There is a tract society—the useful labours of which deserve notice; besides which and its other home enterprises the Horbury congregation contributes sums of various amount to the London City Mission, the British Missions, the Foreign Sailors’ Society, the London Missionary Society, and the Evangelisation of the Jews Society. There is much that is gratifying about the unobtrusive Christian character and efforts of this church, for which every Christian mind must pray them “God speed.”
The services are: Lord’s-day, 11 a.m., 3 p.m. (Young Women’s Bible-class), and 6.30 p.m. Holy Communion, first Sunday in the month, after the morning service, and on the third Sunday, after the evening service. Wednesday evening at 7, an expository lecture, followed by a Psalmody-class, to practise anthems and tunes. Prayer and church meetings at stated times. There are six deacons, Messrs. Coats, Cullingford, Holt, E. Nash, Starkey (Mrs. S.), and Walton.