THE “TALBOT TABERNACLE” NOTTING-HILL.
This is an iron church, situate in the Talbot-road, Notting-hill, and a few steps only from and on the same side of the road as “All Saints’” Church. It has the same general features as all the iron buildings, but is larger than most of them, having an end gallery, and affording ample accommodation for one thousand persons. The north end or chancel is occupied with a platform, which serves as a pulpit, and the benches of the auditorium come close to it. It is well warmed with a stove, and lit with plain gas pendants; and altogether has a very comfortable appearance. The history of this building must be traced in connexion with the career of Mr. Gordon Forlong, a name now well known in and beyond the immediate scene of his labours. This gentleman is a Scotch barrister, who, a few years ago (in 1856), felt moved to give up the pursuit of his profession for the work of an evangelist. His endeavours to make known the Gospel appear to have been highly appreciated in his native Aberdeenshire; and were soon sought for in different parts of Scotland and in Edinburgh, where Mr. Forlong spent some time. After a trial, however, he found that the condition of an itinerant preacher, with a family, became impracticable, and resolved on seeking a settled charge in London. Here his first appearance was in the Victoria-hall, Archer-street, in October, 1867. The hall, which he hired on his own responsibility, was generally well attended at his services, and continued to be used by him until 1869. In the latter half of that year, the present building was secured at a cost in all of 2,000l., to be liquidated by instalments, there being also a ground-rent of 96l. per annum. Apart from a little aid which Mr. Forlong has drawn from his friends in the North and elsewhere, the whole financial obligation of this enterprise has rested with himself and the friends who have been inclined to assist him on the spot. That it has been a great struggle is not surprising. At the end of the first year there was a balance on the wrong side of the sheet to the amount of 476l. 1s. 9d., which, being paid by the minister, left the total amount advanced by him for the church 714l. 9s. 6d. This, it may be hoped, has been ere now discharged by the congregation; more especially as up to the present time, the minister’s services, both at the Hall and in the new church, have received no remuneration. There are about 150 sittings, let at from 4s. to 30s. per seat per annum; and there are church-boxes for weekly offerings and various collections through the year. This together may be considered a sufficient financial basis to work upon, in order to place the concern, not long hence, in a free and prosperous condition.
Mr. Gordon Forlong rejects the title of Reverend. Having never obtained or sought ordination in any church, he looks upon himself as a lay preacher of the Gospel, called and set apart by God only; and treats with indifference and even contemns all ministerial titles and peculiar functions, as looking in the direction of priestcraft, which he abhors. He has, from the first, taken his special mission in the neighbourhood to be to oppose Ritualism, which he found developing itself on his arrival, and to call together a people to exemplify spiritual religion. To these objects he has certainly confined himself with great steadiness, and not without success. A number of persons, it is said, find refuge at the “Tabernacle” who have been alienated from their mother Church hard by through Ritualistic practices; and the truth of this statement, it appears, cannot be challenged. The character of the church and congregation which Mr. Forlong has formed is non sectarian, and does not allow itself to be called either Baptist, Congregational, or Wesleyan, or anything else but the Church of Christ; although the mode of conducting the service may be described as a free adaptation of any and all of these. Along with the reading of the Scriptures there is exposition. The hymns used are gathered from all the Nonconformist collections, under the title of “Psalms and Hymns,” published by Elliott, of Tichborne-street. It contains selections from the principal writers—Watts, Doddridge, Toplady, Wesley, &c. One we heard sung was one of the finest and most impassioned of the latter author, commencing—
O Love Divine, how sweet thou art!
When shall I find my willing heart
All taken up by thee?
I thirst, I faint, I die to prove
The greatness of redeeming love,
The love of Christ to me!
This was sung by the congregation to a lively tune and with good devotional effect. At the close of this, the preacher read a number of requests for special prayer from members of the congregation for specific objects stated on the paper, connected with their personal or family experience, and some of thanksgiving for former prayers answered. This took considerable time, and was followed by a brief petition, giving a general utterance to these supplications. The sermon was extempore, and founded upon Psalm xxiii. Probably it should be termed a free address, intended to bring out, by scriptural illustration, the character of the Redeemer as the “Great Shepherd.” Mr. Forlong does not appear to believe in the ordinary style of sermonising, or “philosophising” on distinct portions or mottoes of Scripture; and has adopted the plan of turning his audience into a great Bible class. They follow him systematically through chapter and verse from beginning to end, and the preacher simply connects the sense of the passages, and pauses here and there to enforce a passing thought. The expositor, however, is animated (as most Scotchmen are), and familiar in his illustrations; and as to Scripture itself his system is highly instructive. The sermon lasts about forty minutes. There were about 400 present, on a very inclement morning. There is a Sunday-school attached, with a good voluntary staff of teachers, conducted morning and afternoon in the Golborne-Hall, having 200 children of both sexes. The public services are, Sunday morning at eleven; evening at seven; and prayer-meeting on Thursday evening. Communion service on the first Sunday in the month at the morning service, and the second Sunday at the evening service. This service is administered without written form, and by handing round the bread and wine to the communicants in their seats. All religious persons are admitted to it by introduction to the minister.