The Church Index / A Book of Metropolitan Churches and Church Enterprise: Part I. Kensington

by William Pepperell

ST. PETER’S, ONSLOW GARDENS.

The Church of St. Peter, situate in Onslow-gardens, South Kensington, is a much more important church, on close examination, than a distant view leads the observer to believe. There are not many good points from which the church is seen, and the view from the north is cut up by the vicarage recently erected, which we suppose is to form part of a terrace, but which does not improve the general appearance. The west front, by no means a fine composition, possesses some good details, and the tower and spire, which form a portion of this elevation, do much to assist in lending a picturesque effect. The spire is of very good design, but the tower is too stunted, and, like St. Paul’s, would be improved by an additional ten feet in height. The spire wears the appearance of having been placed on too soon. Entering the church by the west door, the perspective view is very effective and telling; this is mainly attributable to the arcades, which, though of very simple Early English character, are very well-proportioned; and the pointed triplet arcades at the transept form a pleasing variety from the usual monotony of ordinary church nave arrangements. The transverse arch at the transepts rather takes from the perspective, and might with advantage have been less depressed. A very peculiarly corbelled chancel arch—in shape like a bishop’s mitre—is, we should think, unique. The arch, as originally built, was too contracted; the chancel pieces have been cut away, and large corbels introduced, suggesting the shape before referred to. Indeed, if it had been possible to open the apsidal chancel a little more, it would have been an improvement. The good general appearance of the eastern windows, with their excellent stained glass, by Messrs. Ward and Hughes, of Frith-street, Soho, is still very much obscured and lost. The nave roof is light and well-designed, but not quite agreeable, being somewhat too late in character. The details of the windows and clerestory are all very simply designed, to accord with the style of the church; the stalls, prayer-desk, and lectern, being somewhat in advance of the chancel arch, are enclosed by a dwarf-stone screen, which separates them from the body of the church. The font is very plain indeed—indicative of the simplicity of baptism, we suppose—possessing no ornamentation on the octagonal bowl save the monogram well cut in relief. But it is in contemplation further to embellish it. The stone pulpit is octagonal also, and has well-carved figures in relief of the four Evangelists. The floor of the church is well covered with some rather pretty benches, which, together with transept galleries, will contain a congregation of about 1,500. The vestry is on the north-east angle of the church, and the organ, quietly decorated, is placed in the south chancel aisle. This instrument, which is a very superior one, was built by Messrs. Hill and Sons, at a cost of 800l. It has three rows of keys and 29 stops.

St. Peter’s was consecrated on St. Peter’s Day, June 29, 1867, by the Bishop of London, Dr. Tait, now Archbishop of Canterbury. It was build and presented to the district by Chas. J. Freake, Esq., of Cromwell House, who is its patron, and the pulpit was the special gift of Mrs. Freake. The parsonage is also built on ground given by Mr. Freake. The district is composed of the area between the Fulham and the Brompton-roads, including Elm-place, and in about the centre of which the church stands, being at present only very sparsely populated. This church, like many others in the suburbs, was built in anticipation of future population, and meanwhile draws its congregation mainly from beyond. It is, however, a large one, there being present at the ordinary Sunday morning service over a thousand persons; but, almost without exception, of the upper class. Strictly speaking, there is not a poor person to be seen in it. There are few free sittings to mention; and such as go by that name at the remote end from the chancel appear ready to let as occasion may offer. Not that all the other sittings are taken; for although the body of the church appears tolerably full, there are not 700 sittings really let—scarcely one-half the number provided. We cannot, therefore, understand why the verger guards all that part of the church so jealously, and when a stranger asks for a seat higher up tells him with some peremptoriness that he cannot go. If, however, the Vicar has no poor people within his church walls, the Rev. Gerald Blunt, Vicar of Chelsea, has lately made him a present of 2,300, who border on his district, to care for. This sacred trust the rev. gentleman is setting himself to fulfil with zeal and diligence.

We must confess to some surprise, considering the evident social character of the congregation, that the collections and offertory yield comparatively so little. There are boxes at the doors for offerings towards church expenses, and the highest sum received from this source in one day, in 1870, was 4l. 19s. 5d., and that was on Easter-day. But, taking the year through, it does not average one pound per week. There is something in this more than ordinarily sad, for the people that go in and out at those doors count their income not by hundreds, but by thousands. The offertory is a more direct appeal, but it only yielded in the year 184l. 16s. 9s. Altogether, including subscriptions (less commission for collecting them), there was only 357l. 16s. 6d. raised for church expenses. For the poor of the district, by offertories and private donations, there was raised 144l. 1s. 6d. This sum was disbursed in various outlays for the relief and comfort of the needy poor. But how small the amount compared with the ability to do! There is a day-school in Arthur street, connected with the church, for the support of which from all sources, private subscriptions, collection after sermon, &c., there was raised 305l. 19s. 11½d. Collections in church for other than local purposes amounted to 121l. 6s., including 60l. 13s. for the Bishop of London’s Fund, and for the Chelsea Dispensary and Victoria Hospital for sick children 60l. 13s. The whole, therefore, of the visible liberality of this wealthy congregation is at present summed up in the figures 985l. 1s. 2½d. per annum. We trust that an era of larger heartedness will speedily dawn. Congregations, as well as individuals, require to learn the art and luxury of giving. It should not be passed without notice that Mrs. Byng, assisted by a few young ladies of the congregation, has established a Sunday-school and mothers’ meetings, which are in good working, although as yet in their infancy. There are also an evening sewing class, night-school and a clothing club, superintended and directed by Mrs. Byng.

The Hon. and Rev. Francis E. C. Byng, M.A. (Oxford), was formerly of Twickenham, from whence he was introduced to the new church of St. Peter’s by its patron, Mr. Freake. He is a minister unquestionably Evangelical in doctrine, and the ceremonial he has established in his church is a medium one, being at equal distance from excessive plainness on the one hand, and High Church Ritual on the other. The service is earnest and lively without over much singing; but what there is of the latter is excellently done by a choir in surplices, under the able direction of Mr. Arthur Sullivan, the organist; who, as a composer and conductor in other than church music, has just earned himself no small praise at the opening concert of the International Exhibition. Mr. Sullivan has conducted the musical part of the service from the first and it is owing to his zeal and talent that it has attained such efficiency. The prayers and lessons were well read in a clear voice by the Rev. C. Scholefield, M.A. (Cambridge), curate, the Litany being taken by the Vicar. Both as reader and preacher, the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Byng, gifted with a good voice and having a suitably animated manner, fixes and retains the attention of his audience. His sermon on April 30 was from Deut xxxiii., 25th verse, “And as thy days so shall thy strength be.” It was the effusion of a devout mind, intelligently comprehending the trials and experiences of our common life, and fully aware of the sole secret of human hope and consolation. Though read there was nothing perfunctory in the delivery, the preacher being sufficiently free from his manuscript to put himself on a line with the eye, and we cannot but think with the heart of all his hearers in every part of the church; occasionally even turning to look into the galleries and into the chancel, that the occupants of those parts may not think themselves forgotten. If all preachers used their MSS. in the manner of Mr. Byng, and always made them speak such excellent things, much of the current objection to their use in public would vanish. In taking leave for the present of St. Peter’s, we cannot but congratulate the people there on their beautiful church, and the religious advantages they enjoy.

ST. LUKE’S CHURCH, SOUTH KENSINGTON.

As another interesting example of how churches spring up in our midst, following or hastening before the population, we have now to notice another new enterprise in South Kensington. St. Luke’s is at present a temporary iron church, put up to await the erection of a more enduring one, on what is known as the Redcliffe Estate, in South Kensington, now being covered with dwellings of a superior order, by Messrs. Corbett and M‘Clymont. These gentlemen have presented the site for the new church, which is a most eligible one, situate in the yet uncompleted Redcliffe-square. Plans for the new-church are in preparation by Messrs. G. and D. Godwin, of the Fulham-road, and it is intended to be built in the course of 1872. By the time it is erected, it will show itself to be in one of the best-selected positions to be met with around London. The structure will be in the early decorated style, and is to cost about 10,000l., and it is a circumstance to place the promoters beyond the reach of much anxiety on the subject, that 7,000l. of the amount is already deposited. Meanwhile the iron church on the other side of the way is doing good service. It was put up in July last, and opened on the 23rd of that month, just six months ago, by the Rev. Wm. Fraser Handcock, M.A. (of Oxford) the vicar (designate), and previously vicar of St. Luke’s, Cheltenham. To this latter church South Kensington has recently given a new minister, in the person of the Rev. J. A. Aston, late vicar of St. Stephen’s, and has received in return the Rev. W. F. Handcock, but to open entirely new ground. Mr. Handcock not only came from Cheltenham, but he brought the material of the church in which he now preaches with him from thence. It was a wooden structure, and consequently before he could commence work in it, occasion was given for some correspondence and trouble with the Metropolitan Board of Works. He unwittingly incurred the Board’s disapproval by violating one of its bye-laws, and they compelled him to case it in iron of certain dimensions before it was opened. This caused a further outlay of 400l., which was a matter of some consequence to the rev. gentleman, as he had personally undertaken the whole responsibility of the temporary church. The district assigned to St. Luke’s is taken out of that of St. Mary’s in the Boltons, and includes at present about 3,000 population; but may have double that number four or five years hence. The present building has sittings for 700, and between 100 and 200 are free; the remainder let in the nave at 2l. per annum and in aisles at 1l. Considering the time it has been opened, the church is very well attended. At the morning service we found about 300 present, a full choir of youths in surplices; who rendered the chants, psalms, and hymns in a creditable manner to Anglican strains. The organ—well played by Mr. Henry P. Keens—is small; but, like the church itself, temporary. The prayers were read, and the whole tone of the service was Evangelical. Hymns in use, “Ancient and Modern.” There is a weekly offertory for the church expenses, which is taken before the sermon.

The Rev. W. Fraser Handcock is a minister apparently about forty years of age. He begins his service in rather a low tone of voice, but immediately rises to the compass of the auditorium, and thoroughly maintains it to the end. The emphasis in his reading is placed with almost faultless accuracy; so that the true sense is never lost to the hearer. The sermon was read, but delivered with very considerable effect. In matter it was most intelligent, instructive, and Evangelical. Discoursing from John xviii. 38: “Pilate saith unto him, what is truth?” the preacher considered Pilate as the representative sceptic of his age; and drew a striking parallel between him and modern sceptics, in their affected uncertainty and unbelieving inquiries, as to how the truth was to be determined; and, like Pilate, they found vain excuses for their infidelity in the divided state of Christendom. In France religion was suffering through the recoil from that “sham” of Christianity set up there by Popery; and in England, silently but too certainly, the evil leaven had been at work; in the Universities, in schools, and in literature. When a convert from Rome, as had often happened, first landed on our shores, it was not to be wondered at if, on a superficial survey of the Church as it was, he inquired, doubting, “What is truth?” When he glanced at the various tenets taught within even their own Church, could any other result be expected! We heard, for instance, from some that a species of magical spiritual power was vested in the ministers of religion, so that the sprinkling of a little water in baptism, or the uttering of a few words over the elements used in celebrating the Lord’s Supper, produced necessarily divine effects—teaching against which our finer sense revolted. He went to another extreme, and found others objecting to everything in the world not purely spiritual; even to all kinds of music not sacred in its character and use. Then, perhaps, he took up a book written by some plausible, philosophising author, the fallacies of which he was not able to detect; and it was easy enough for him in all these phases of our intellectual and religious life to find an excuse, and inquire, “What, then, is truth?” But after all, it was out a mere excuse, a vain pretence; for there were the great cardinal truths of Revelation plain enough to be understood: about God, about eternity, the soul, and God’s way of winning it. But men rejected or quibbled about these Bible truths and things raised upon them, because, in fact, Christianity was not merely a creed, but it was a life—a life that men must live both inwardly and outwardly. And this was the grand reason why men evaded it: the Master said, if any man would do God’s will, they should know of the doctrine that it was of him. But it was because they were not inclined humbly to do it, that men remained in such ignorance and confusion about it. This witness is faithful and true, for there can be no doubt that the chief difficulties in the way of the reception of the religion of the Bible are to be sought in the moral rather than the intellectual condition of men. This was the great point clearly and forcibly brought out by the preacher, and if this is an average sermon in purport and aim, we cannot but congratulate the neighbourhood on the advent of Mr. Handcock, and on the building of the new church. As yet, as a matter of course, the usual church adjuncts are only in contemplation. A Sunday-school, however, will be opened immediately, and before the permanent edifice is consecrated, all the usual parochial machinery will be at work. The assistant minister is the Rev. E. J. Haddock, B.A., Dublin. The churchwardens are Capt. A. Waldy, of 9, Stanhope-gardens, and Dr. Daniell, of Cathcart road, South Kensington.