The Auxiliary Missionary Society greatly increased its contributions under the new pastorate, and before Dr. Vaughan left they were, I believe, more than doubled. I remember attending a missionary meeting in Hornton Street, soon after I entered the ministry in 1832, when a large attendance in the chapel, a well-filled platform, and energetic speeches by the pastor in the chair and by others, bore ample witness to the missionary spirit which was reigning in the place. One family in particular, at a later period, was distinguished by zeal for the conversion of the heathen, and did perhaps more than any other to fan the flame of missionary benevolence. I allude to the Newtons, who—with their father, a deacon in the Church, and their mother, who was indeed “a mother in Israel”—held a foremost place, not only in this respect, but in other works of faith and labours of love. Being warmly attached to Dr. Vaughan, they all, parents and children, held up his hands and cheered his heart. One of Mr. Newton’s daughters, in my time, was married to the Rev. J. H. Budden, a valuable missionary at Mirzapore; and it was during Dr. Vaughan’s administration that this excellent man, then I think a member of the Church, had devoted himself to the London Missionary Society, of which, down to the present day, he has remained a distinguished agent. The young lady he married, and her sisters, were indefatigable as collectors for Foreign Missions; and I have often thought what a blessing it is for a congregation to have such helpers; not only because they themselves feed streams of holy Christian charity, but because by example and social influence they stimulate the usefulness of others. A sister of Mr. Budden’s, also connected with Kensington, became the wife of Mr. Birt, a missionary who laboured assiduously and successfully in South Africa; and it was a sad calamity for the Mission, and her family at home, when, in early life, she was killed by an accident, whilst travelling with her husband in a bullock wagon over an African wild.
The Tract Society mentioned in the list just now cited developed into a new form. The Christian Instruction Society came into existence, and was energetically taken up by Dr. Vaughan and his friends; meetings used to be regularly held, when the visitors attended to report their labours, and to receive small sums out of funds collected for relieving poor people in the neighbourhood.
The Sunday School also received large attention and support from the Newton family. I believe that all the members were in the schools, either as teachers or scholars; the mother being a model teacher, whose praise in the congregation, amongst some of the old members, has echoed down to this very day. Kensington furnishes many illustrations of that inspired saying, “The memory of the just is blessed.”
The Sunday School anniversary, at the end of March, was a high day. Just as the spring buds began to burst in the hedgerows which lined the opposite side of the road, crowds of youngsters, full of springtide hope and joy, were seen crowding within the doors to take part in the yearly festival. The boys occupied the gallery on one side, the girls filled the other. The little maidens on these occasions wore white caps, of which they were rather proud, but as they were often criticised, the practice of putting them on was entirely dropped about the year 1845. The singing of special hymns by childish voices was a constant accompaniment, and to many a great attraction.
Whilst these forms of usefulness went on in immediate connection with the Church, outside of it stood two institutes of a thoroughly catholic description—the British School and the Bible Society.
At the back of the old chapel were buildings occupied by the British School, where a large number of boys and girls were educated upon unsectarian principles. Church people and Dissenters united in their support, but the latter were foremost. Elementary education at that period was largely promoted by the voluntary efforts of the British and the National School Societies; the first of these rallying round it the ranks of Dissent, the second being a pillar of strength in the Established Church. The minister and deacons at Hornton Street took special interest in the Kensington British School.
The British and Foreign Bible Society had a large auxiliary for many years, comprehending a district which reached over both Westminster and the Court suburb. The annual meetings originally were held in the Haymarket, sometimes under the presidency of Royal Dukes, when, during the period of Dr. Leifchild’s ministry, he would be sure to be present, and make telling speeches in his own characteristic style. In the latter period of his pastorate, I believe, the district narrowed; certainly in Dr. Vaughan’s time the auxiliary had formed itself into distinct branches, and the Kensington one was wont to hold its own meetings. The King’s Arms, by the palace gates had an assembly room in which the friends of the Bible Society used to meet in Dr. Vaughan’s days, and there he did not fail by his sonorous eloquence impressively to commend the circulation of the Holy Scriptures throughout the world, as equally a Christian duty and a Christian privilege. On the platform, especially in later years, on denominational and patriotic questions, he often surpassed himself. The light from under his knitted brow, his compressed lips, his lordly bearing, his significant attitude and graceful gestures—something dramatic appeared in his oratory on such occasions—revealed much out of the ordinary way, and raised in listeners high expectations, which were rarely disappointed.
Dr. Vaughan spent more time at home than in visiting his people, not always to the satisfaction of the latter; but his profiting appeared unto all men, and his more intelligent hearers appreciated the results of his diligent study. He gradually rose into fame as an author, and his “Life of Wickliffe” won for him a high reputation. Other historical works, which it is needless to specify, made him still more widely known, and literary men honoured the Kensington pastor as an ornament to their profession. His authorship led to his London University professorship. History was his forte, and as Professor of Modern History in the new academical institute, he did good service. All these laurels served to attract thoughtful and cultivated people to Hornton Street. Inferior in numbers to many, the congregation, perhaps, in reference to the educated class, was inferior to none. Some of the aristocracy might now and then, during the latter part of his ministry, and afterwards, be seen within the humble walls. The Duchess of Sutherland and Lady Mary Fox were, I know, great admirers of the Doctor; and the former of these ladies—so queen-like in her appearance and manners—was once, I am told, present at a prayer meeting in the little Kensington schoolroom. The pastor was thankful to have opportunities of usefulness amongst people of rank, but he had no idea of flattering the great and seeking their patronage. I am quite sure from what I knew of him, and from conversation on the subject, he valued an occasional attendance of distinguished persons, much talked of at the time, only on account of the good he hoped to do them, not at all on account of any assistance they rendered, or any éclat they conferred. Though of humble extraction, he was one of Nature’s nobility, without assumption or servility, he could bear himself well amongst the noblest of the land.
One word ought to be said about his son—a member of the Church, and whom I think I now see sitting in the table pew, with his intellectual face, and long raven locks, looking up with loving eyes to his parent and pastor. The Doctor was proud of his son, and well he might be. But thankfulness for such a treasure went beyond all pride. The youth won the praises of such men as Sir James Stephen and Charles Kingsley, and had he been spared he would have proved a great blessing to the Church of God. But his “sun went down whilst it was yet day,” and this bereavement proved the greatest trial and sorrow of the father’s life. The son resembled the father, not much in his mental habits, but very much in his pulpit appearance and manners. I remember an old deacon saying, after he had heard “Alfy,” as his father called him, preach for me after I came to Kensington, “He’s a chip of the old block.”
It was in the year 1843 that Dr. Vaughan received an invitation to become Principal of Lancashire Independent College. Immediately afterwards a special meeting of the Church was held, and it is thus reported in the records:—