| 1730 | Rev. William Lacey, Battersea. |
| 1736 | — Dr. Sloane Ellesmere, Rector of Chelsea. |
| 1766 | — Mr. Gower, Chelsea. |
| — | — Mr. Jacobs, Rector of St. Dunstan’s in the West. |
| 1785 | — Dr. Kelly, Vicar of East Mere, Hants. |
| 1792 | — Jas. Ward, Fellow of Queen’s Col., Cambridge. |
| 1797 | — Thomas Ellis. |
| 1800 | — J. Manning. |
| 1802 | — J. Gee Smyth, Rector of Chellesworth, Suffolk. |
| 1812 | — John Owen, Rector of Paglesham, Essex. |
| 1822 | — Henry John Owen, son of the preceding. |
| 1834 | — John Harding. |
| 1836 | — Henry Vaughan. |
| 1836 | — Thomas Vores. |
| 1841 | — John C. Miller. |
| 1846 | — W. Cadman. |
| 1852 | — C. J. Goodhart. |
| Dec. 1868 | — J. G. Gregory. |
The Rev. J. Gee Smyth, M.A., who it will be seen possessed Park Chapel in 1802, made very considerable alterations in it about 1810. It may be said to have been almost rebuilt by him. The late Mr. Richard Mann, of Chelsea, took a very correct sketch of the chapel, as altered by Mr. Smyth. Since 1810, at different times, it has undergone great repairs and some material improvements.
The Rev. John Owen, M.A., was born in London in 1765. He received his education at St. Paul’s School, and removed from thence to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he prosecuted his studies with such success as to obtain several prizes, and to be elected a Fellow of his College. After taking holy orders, he soon distinguished himself as a preacher, and attracted the notice of Bishop Porteus, who bestowed on him the living of Paglesham, in Essex, having previously recommended him to the Curacy of Fulham, which he held until the decease of that venerable prelate; and, on his resigning the Lectureship, in 1813, the inhabitants of that parish presented Mr. Owen with a handsome testimonial of their attachment, as an acknowledgment of the faithful manner he had discharged his duties. He was one of the distinguished founders of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and acted as honorary secretary for eighteen years. During the whole of this period he most zealously advocated, in every possible way, the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, in conjunction with the Rev. Dr. Steinkoff, and the Rev. Joseph Hughes, M.A., of Battersea. Mr. Owen possessed great mental talents, both as an extempore preacher and a writer. He was remarkably quick and correct in his conceptions, extremely thoughtful in forming his conclusions, and kind and considerate whenever a sense of duty compelled him to differ from others in opinion. He wrote the History of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and other works; and continued to discharge his sacred duties as Minister of Park Chapel as long as his health permitted. He died at Ramsgate, the 26th of September, 1822, in the 57th year of his age. He resided at Fulham during nearly the entire period of his active life.
The Rev. Henry John Owen, M.A., succeeded his father in 1822. While at Park Chapel he was much esteemed by the congregation, and when he left many deplored the loss of him.
The Rev. John Harding, M.A., was appointed Minister of Park Chapel in 1834. Some time after he became the Rector of St. Ann’s, Blackfriars. In both parishes he was much beloved by his congregations, and greatly esteemed by the parishioners. At length he was consecrated Bishop of Bombay, and, having remained in India for many years, he returned to England, and a short time since preached on a Sunday evening at Park Chapel. An affecting scene took place on that occasion, as his lordship left the chapel. A great number of persons had assembled outside to shew the respect they entertained towards him, notwithstanding his long absence from Chelsea. When Bishop Harding approached, he seemed almost overpowered with the kind recollection manifested by so many of the congregation and other inhabitants, and, after a slight pause, he said, with considerable emotion, “My dear friends, I thank you from my heart for your kind remembrance of me. May God bless every one of you!” It should here be mentioned that Bishop Harding, previously to his ministry at Park Chapel, had been at St. Luke’s New Parish Church, with the late revered Rev. H. Blunt, M.A., father of the present respected Rector, at which Church he was also greatly esteemed.
The Rev. Henry Vaughan, M.A., did not long remain at Park Chapel, as the state of his health rendered it impossible for him to continue. Some short time afterwards he was called to his eternal rest. I heard it once stated that Christian love was engraved on his forehead.
The Rev. Thomas Vores, M.A., who was next in succession, was, like his predecessors, much beloved. About five years after his appointment he vacated it, and went to Hastings.
The Rev. Dr. Miller, the Rev. W. Cadman, M.A., and the Rev. C. J. Goodhart, M.A., were equally respected as being zealous and faithful ministers. The two former are, at the present time, in the full vigour of life, and actively engaged in discharging their sacred duties in large parishes. With respect to Mr. Goodhart, who has only recently left the chapel, and whose ministry there extended over so many years, it would be a difficult task to notice him adequately in a given space; the best summary will be to state that on his retirement he was presented with a silver salver and a purse containing about £540, as a testimony of the high respect entertained by the congregation for his long and faithful ministrations.
The Rev. J. G. Gregory, M.A., succeeded Mr. Goodhart at the close of the year 1868. The body of the chapel, since his appointment, has been entirely re-pewed, the old high pews having been all removed, and the seats made more commodious by additional width being given to them. Several other alterations have been made, and a few more are said to be in contemplation. The whole interior of the chapel is therefore now greatly improved, both as regards comfort and appearance. The exterior of the structure, however, requires to be altogether rebuilt, as soon as practicable, so as to accord with the ecclesiastical architecture of the present day, especially in such a locality as West Brompton and South Kensington. In the Vestry Room are portraits of the different Ministers of Park Chapel, commencing with the Rev. John Owen, and terminating with the Rev. Mr. Goodhart, with only one exception, the portrait of Mr. Vaughan, the absence of which may be attributed to the short period of his ministry, in consequence of his illness and death, and the difficulty afterwards of procuring a correct likeness of him. It would be well if this memorial portrait could be added to the others.
Their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of Kent and Sussex attended this chapel in 1812, when a collection was made for the benefit of the schools, on which occasion a guard of honour, selected from Queen Charlotte’s Royal Volunteers, was stationed at the doors on their arrival and departure.