Her Ladyship at that time lived in a house which formed a part of North street,—the business of the town then being transacted in the Lanes,—and built a little Chapel with these funds at the back of her private house, on the site of the present chapel, which was opened in the Autumn of 1761, the Rev. Matthew Madden preaching the opening sermon. It had only been opened six years when it was found to be too small for its congregation, and, in February, 1767, it was enlarged and re-opened by the Rev. M. Madden and the Rev. G. Whitefield. In 1774 it was taken down and rebuilt, this time at the expense of Miss Norton, a friend of the Countess, who lived in an adjoining house. In 1775 it was re-opened, for the third time, by the Rev. W. Romaine, the then Rector of St. Ann’s, Blackfriars. In 1810, a further enlargement was found to be necessary, and it was then made capable of accommodating 1,000 persons. [365] In 1821 another considerable enlargement took place, making it capable of holding 1,500 persons. It was again enlarged in 1842,—when the chapel-house was thrown into the body of the place,—to its present condition.
Among the celebrated Ministers who have preached there, besides those already mentioned, may be named, Revs. A. M. Toplady, Berridge, Jones, Fletcher, Henry Venn, Dr. Rawes,—the founder of the London Missionary Society,—and the late lamented Pastor, the Rev. Joseph Sortain. The Rev. J. B. Figgis is the present Pastor.
Union Street Chapel was erected, after the repeal of the Non-Conformist Act, in 1698, and for upwards of one hundred years continued in the hands of the Presbyterians. It now belongs to a congregation of Dissenters of the Independent denomination. In 1810 it was considerably enlarged, under the Pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Styles. In 1823, the Rev. J. N. Goulty, at the earnest request of the congregation, accepted the Pastorate. At that time there was a debt of £1,000 on the Chapel, only about half of which had been provided for before he took the office. The attendance so increased, especially at evening services, that it was found desirable, in the Summer of 1825, to have it taken down and entirely re-built. The expenses of this alteration were immediately subscribed by the congregation, except about £500, which was lent upon debentures, to be taken up in five years, which were ultimately satisfactorily settled. It is now capable of seating nearly 1,000 persons. In January, 1862, after 38 years’ indefatigable labour, the Rev. J. N. Goulty resigned the Pastorate, and was succeeded by the Rev. R. Vaughan Pryce, M.A., LL.B.
Trinity Chapel is situated in Ship Street, and was built in 1817, by Messrs. Wilds, at the sole expense of Thomas Read Kemp, Esq., M.P., who officiated personally until 1825, when it was purchased by the Rev. Robert Anderson. It has undergone several alterations, and is at present used as a Chapel of Ease to the Church of England. The interior is extremely handsome. In the centre of the ceiling rises a small dome, partly covered with glass, which adds to the light, and gives a free ventilation of air. The Rev. Henry Herbert Wyatt, M.A., is the present Incumbent.
Wesleyan Chapel, Dorset Gardens, was erected in 1808, and is capable of accommodating 700 persons. There is no settled Pastor to the congregation, but it is supplied with ministers appointed by the Conference. In connexion with this Chapel are the Windsor Street and Upper Bedford Street (Zion) Wesleyan Chapels.
St. James’s Chapel, on the north side of St. James’s Street, was built in 1810. The Duke of Marlborough, on being apprized that the scheme for the erection of this Chapel was on foot, and that the expences attending it would be covered by voluntary contributions, with that liberality which so distinguished him during his residence in Grove House, instantly subscribed £100, and expressed a hope, on doing so, that—to use his own words—“the playhouse method of receiving shillings for admission, as at the Chapel Royal, would not be adopted when the building was completed.” His Lordship’s hopes were fully realized, and the Chapel, being built by shares, was called a Free Chapel. Some few years after its erection, in consequence of the congregation dissenting from the Established Church, it was taken by the late Nathaniel Kemp, Esq., of Ovingdean, who purchased all the shares, became sole-proprietor, and had it duly consecrated. The property has now passed into the hands of his widow and children. The Rev. C. D. Maitland, the present Incumbent, was nominated in February, 1828. In 1836 the school-room was built adjoining the Chapel, wherein about 250 children of both sexes have been religiously instructed every Sunday since that time, and 130 girls have been daily receiving an useful education.
St. Margaret’s Chapel is situated in St. Margaret’s Place, on the west side of Cannon Place. It was built, in 1825, as a Chapel of Ease. This Chapel is “proprietary,” though consecrated under special Act of Parliament. The Rev. Edmund Clay, B.A., who was appointed in February, 1856, pays a rental of £375 per annum, and all expenses of repairs and others incidental to the due performance of Divine Worship: averaging over £200 per annum. In connexion with this Chapel are the Industrial Girls’ School, built by the Rev. E. Clay, in 1856, at a cost of £1,600; the Youths’ Evening School, in Cannon Street, and an Infant Nursery, in Regency Square.
St. George’s Chapel, built, in 1825, under a special Act of Parliament, in St. George’s Road, and directly opposite the Hospital, at the sole expense of Thomas Read Kemp, Esq., is capable of holding about 1,200 people. The Rev. J. S. M. Anderson, Chaplain to the Queen and Queen Dowager, officiated for a number of years, and was very popular. He was succeeded by the present Incumbent, the Rev. J. H. North, M.A.
St. Mary’s Chapel, St. James’s Street, was erected in 1827. This Chapel is built after a model of the Temple of Nemesis, at Athens. Incumbent and Patron, Rev. H. V. Elliott, M.A.
St. John’s (the Evangelist) Chapel, Carlton Hill, was built in 1840, by Messrs. Cheesman, upon a site most unfortunately selected, and without any architectural advice. There are four Schools in connexion with this Chapel, under the clerical management of the Perpetual Curate, upon the principles of self-support, which are calculated to exercise a powerful influence for good in this, the very poorest portion of the town, the building being made over for ever to the National Society for the Education of the Poor in the principles of the Established Church, and placed under trust of the Archdeacon of Lewes. Rev. A. A. Morgan, M.A., is the present Incumbent.