The church was built under the ministry of the Rev. J. A. Aston, M.A., to replace an iron church which for some time he occupied on the opposite side of the road. The same continued minister until the autumn of 1870, when he was succeeded by the present officiating minister, the Rev. J. P. Waldo, M.A. The progress made under Mr. Aston’s pastorate is seen from the circumstance that it was found necessary in two or three years to increase the accommodation by the building of galleries on the west and south sides. This work was completed in March, 1870, at a cost of 600l., by Mr. Aldin, of Queen’s-gate-place. The cost of the whole, when completed, we are told will not be less than 20,000l., a very high figure when it is considered that the church has no more land than that on which it stands, and the narrow bare paths around it. There are about 1,150 sittings, which let at an average of 2l. 2s. per annum each, leaving about 150 sittings free—1,300 in all, which appear to be well occupied by a congregation of a superior class. Out of the pew-rents and collections the clergy and the church are supported. There are temporary day and Sunday schools attached, situated in the Queen’s-gardens, near the site, where from one to two hundred children are instructed. The organ is very ably played by Mr. Lowe. The choir is composed of both males in plain dress and females.
The prayers were read and also the psalms, with the exception of the first, which was chanted. There is no variance from the accepted English and Evangelical mode of conducting worship. The hymn book is the “Church and Home Metrical Psalter and Hymnal,” selections from various authors. The congregation did not join with so much zest and animation in the service as could be desired, except in one hymn—“Lord of the Worlds above,” &c., the peculiarly lively words and music of which appeared to evoke devotional feeling and dispel restraint. We are sorry, however, to see this hymn, which in its original dress, as it stands in another hymn-book, is one of the finest in the language, so sadly mutilated by the simple act of transference from one collection to another. We deplore the liberty which editors of our numerous collections sometimes take with the productions of even our best hymn-writers. Why should this be so? We have never seen an alteration of this kind which has not been for the worse as it regards both thought and expression. The curate reads well and agreeably to the ear, in a voice more remarkable for clearness than strength. The vicar, the Rev. Mr. Waldo, is still new to the audience, having been at St. Stephen’s about four months. His vocal powers and reading are good; the former have not that compass which enables them to meet the requirements of the large congregation with the greatest ease. The sermon, founded on Gen. xlv. 5, was an elegant piece of composition, not only read, but delivered in the reading, which is not always the case. The thoughts presented on the general and special providence of God, as unfolded in the history of Joseph, were those of a devout, thoughtful, and cultivated mind, and most comforting to the troubled and disconsolate. From what we saw and heard, we have much pleasure in recording our belief that good Christian work is being done at St. Stephen’s.
CHRIST CHURCH, SOUTH KENSINGTON.
This church, which stands at the foot of the Victoria road, might have been much better placed, so as to be seen in perspective, which indeed its near appearance would warrant. Its fair and well-proportioned tower and spire would then have formed a striking object, and might have been visible even from Kensington-gardens. Could it be lifted out of the pit in which it seems to nestle at the dark end of a road which is no thoroughfare, and out of its unsightly surroundings in Cornwall-gardens, it would be an immense benefit to the mere appearance of the building. The building in itself is generally very simple, but not without effect. It is built of ragstone with bath-stone dressings, and covered with slate. The enclosure is nicely planted, neatly kept, and fenced with dwarf walls. Internally the church is unimposing. The nave and aisles are surmounted by a heavy-looking but plain roof—without clerestory lights. The tower space on the north side of the chancel, is occupied as an organ chamber. The chancel is quite plain and without aisles. In the windows, which are of good design and filled with glass of geometrical patterns, there is an absence of stained glass and decoration; which in reality the church requires, to relieve that tame and cold look, which some day might be slightly altered with advantage. A large gallery at the west end does not tend to lighten the interior aspect of the church; nor do the exposed heating pipes, which it would be better to conceal from view. The font, pulpit, and pewing are of plain design, and the passages are paved with red and black tiles, laid diagonally. Christ Church is a chapelry of ease to the parish church of St. Mary Abbotts, Kensington, or rather a trust chapel, served by the Venerable Archdeacon Sinclair, Vicar of Kensington. It was opened and consecrated July 23, 1851, by Bishop Blomfield. The present officiating ministers are the Rev. W. Wright, the morning and evening preacher, who has been curate since 1855, and is now termed the “senior curate.” The Rev. E. T. Carey is the second curate and afternoon preacher, and entered upon his duty in 1869. Both ministers are much esteemed; and from the impressions of our visit the estimation in which they are held is well founded. Mr. Carey read the prayers and lessens in good voice, and with an evident mental appreciation of their religious sense and application. Mr. Wright officiated in the Communion Service and preached the sermon. His voice is penetrating, if not full, and leaves the most dull-eared without excuse. His sermon was an able and faithful exposition of Psalms 142 and 4th verse—“Refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.” The distinction between the circumstances of the Psalmist and his times and our own was finely drawn. In the former case every incident of temporal life—adverse or favourable—was interpreted as a certain indication of the Divine favour or displeasure. With us it was not so much so. We had in general every spiritual advantage; although there were yet some, as at the East-end of London, who, from the scarcity of religious provision, might still say, “No man careth for my soul.” In short we quite thought we were listening to a charity sermon; and after so touching an appeal on behalf of the spiritually destitute, prepared ourselves for a collection. Mr. Wright, however, has our best thanks for touching in so delicate a manner a very sensitive chord in our moral nature.
The chapel is capable of holding 700 persons, and there are less than 100 free sittings; but although it was supposed to have not only its own, but also many of the congregation of the parish church—which is closed for re-erection—it was by no means full. It is hoped, when the central church is completed and reopened, it will have a good effect in the locality, and help to supply the dependent church with an adequate congregation. We have known churches and chapels in the worst situations, under special influence, to be filled with devout worshippers; but they are occasions too rare. Would that we could see them more frequently! One remark made by the preacher in speaking of the need of churches at the East-end was much to the point. It was to the effect that it would be useless to build churches unless there were efficient ministers to carry on the service and occupy the pulpit. Mr. Wright appears to have reflected long enough to learn that the greatest problem of the day is, after all not how churches may be built, but rather how, when built, they may be suitably and successfully served. Here is a good organ under the care of Mr. Brain, of the Eldon-road, but no choir. It is, therefore, purely congregational singing assisted by the organ.
ST. MARY’S, WEST BROMPTON.
The Church of St. Mary, West Brompton, from its position in the centre of the Boltons, can be seen from many points of view to great advantage. It is in the decorated Gothic style, and is an exceedingly good specimen of the Revival of Gothic architecture, having been built some fifteen years ago. Built in the shape of a cross, its tower and spire rise at the intersection of the nave, chancel, and transepts, and are in excellent proportion. The spire is octagonal, and is terminated at its junction with the tower by a pierced parapet with angels at the angles. The octagonal portion of the tower is continued downwards below the tower lights, when it becomes square, with corbelled angels at the four corners. The west front is well designed, and surmounted by a corbelled bell turret, in which hang the only two bells the church possesses, though there would appear to be ample room in the empty tower for a chime. The ragstone of which the church is built, with Bath stone tracing and dressings, has now enough of age to give a softened look to the exterior generally, and the young spring foliage and well-kept surrounding gardens lend their aid to make a rather pretty picture. Internally the church is effective, especially the view from the west end; but the absence of the usual nave arcades and aisle give a long, narrow look to the church, and take from the idea of its size, as at this point the transepts cannot in any way be seen. The nave roof is heavy, and the apostle corbels that support it too large and too near the eye to be in good taste. The choir stalls have lately been extended westwards under the tower space, and the pulpit, of very peculiar design, being more properly a rostrum, though by no means unsightly, stands at the north side of the nave arch, and a recently-erected gallery across the north transept contains the organ. The small vestry is at the north-east angle of the church. The chancel has lately been redecorated and made to agree with the usual arrangements of the Anglican school of worship. The stained glass in the east windows is poor, representing the Ascension some geometrical patterns fill some of the other windows, likewise of a very poor character. The pewing is very plain, and the passages are paved with tiles. The stone font is large and very well executed. The church, as we before said, is a Revival church, and as such it would be unfair to criticise it too much; but, on the contrary, much praise is due to the architect, Mr. Godwin, for giving so fair a specimen of Gothic work when the art was at so low an ebb.
The performance of Divine worship at St. Mary’s is decidedly of the High Church order, with a Ritualistic tendency. In this it differs from what it was under Mr. Swaile, the first minister of the church, and even under Mr. Pearson the second. The present vicar, the Rev. W. T. Du Boulay, M.A., has been there about two years, and during his time a constant Higher tendency has been observed. This has been traceable in the large increase of public services and Eucharistic celebrations. The latter takes place every Sunday morning at eight, and on every alternate Sunday at the eleven o’clock service as well. After Lent we understand a still further increase was intended in the number of these in ordinary. During Lent and other great festivals there is a celebration every morning at the early service, on Good Friday two, and on Easter Sunday three. Apart from this, the whole aspect of things in the chancel looks towards Ritualism. Thus, for instance, the Communion-table, or what High Churchmen call the “Altar” or “Altar-table,” is surmounted by a large gilt cross, which from its exceeding brightness forms a most conspicuous figure—also two large candlesticks, and other lustrous objects. The cover is of deep violet, trimmed with white, and all the moveable furniture, even to the cushions of the chancel, desks, and pulpit, are of the same—this being the colour used by the High Church party during Lent. The choristers number over thirty, and are led in procession to the choir, the people all rising as they and the clergy enter. The vestments are a surplice with the cassock underneath, and visible below the knees; and in addition, the clergy themselves wear the usual sign of degree. No change of dress is made for the pulpit. The Curate—the Rev. Arthur Veysey—intones the prayers, in, we may say, the most perfect style we have yet heard out of a cathedral. His voice is sonorous, and he has cultivated the manner of intoning to a high degree. He has certain little varieties, too, of his own, which render such a method of performing worship as pleasant as it can be. Thus the note is altered in the absolution, and the voice dropped to the lowest tenor, and at the same time quickened; and then again at the Lord’s Prayer a strong bass is put on in a low key. In like manner the Collects were sung quickly in an undertone. At every mention of the Saviour’s name, whether in the prayers, the Gloria Patri, creeds, epistle, or gospel, the reader bowed. And as in the latter it was often named, the frequent bowing of the head must have been a great task; for in this case the Curate read the gospel as well as the epistle, passing in the act from one side of the chancel to the other. The Vicar read the lessons well and distinctly, and preached the sermon. On entering the pulpit the customary invocation was not used; but, standing erect and glancing eastward, the preacher simply uttered the words, “The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,” and at once proceeded. Too little, to our minds, was made of the sermon; it was a short homily in the midst of the service, very good in its way. It consisted largely of exhortation, found on Phil. ii. 3, in which the Saviour was presented as an example of passive and active obedience, and some very practical remarks were made. Quietly useful this style of preaching may be when based on pure Gospel doctrine and view; but it is one from which the old power and higher effect of the pulpit are absent. A novelty, at least to us, occurred in this service. Instead of the usual hymn on the minister entering within the Communion rail, another form is adopted, called the “Introit,” which is a selection of Scripture adapted as much as possible to the day, and sung as an anthem by the choir. To our modern ears the Introit is new; but it is in reality an old thing, in this and some other instances revived. In the first Prayer-book of Edward VI. there is a psalm, containing something proper to the day, printed before every collect, epistle, and gospel. This, from being sung or said whilst the minister made his entrance within the rails, was called introitus or introit. There is, therefore, an ancient reference in the adoption of this form; and by adoption of the name as well as the form, the Vicar of St. Mary’s betrays a certain mediæval direction in church matters. It is, in our opinion, far from an improvement. The “Introit” is a poor substitute for the devotional hymn, in which all the congregation can join, and which has no particular reference to the minister’s bodily movements.
There are connected with this church, a National School, situated in the Chelsea-grove, Fulham-road, and a Sunday-school, containing about one hundred scholars; and it is a pleasing circumstance that the ordinary afternoon service on Sunday is given to the children, and is called the “Children’s Service,” consisting of the Litany and catechising. There is also a lending library in the schoolroom, where books are given out and exchanged every Monday between twelve and one o’clock, the subscription being only one penny per month. There are District Visitors, and a “Mother’s Meeting” is held at the Vicarage on Mondays from 3 to 5 p.m. There are also a Maternal Charity, Coal, Clothing, Shoe, and Blanket Clubs, and even a “Guild” or association for servants. It is clear that the Rev. Mr. Du Boulay has laid himself out for extensive influence and usefulness, and, there is no reason to doubt, in all Christian sincerity. But there are certain forms and ecclesiastical signs about his church arrangements which in many minds cause fear, lest his zeal should not in its effects prove to be of the purest Evangelical character. We regret this very much, as the impression on our own minds of his personal spirit was most favourable. It is of course within his power to remove anything from before his congregation that tends to impair his usefulness. Experience will, no doubt, suggest to him that the Ritualistic line, or, what is really the same, the High Church, is not that in which a clergyman can now be so religiously useful as we are convinced Mr. Du Boulay desires to be. He has daily matins at 8 a.m. and evening song at 5 p.m., choral celebrations at great festivals and on the third Sunday in every month; and the Litany on Wednesdays and Fridays at 11 a.m. The musical arrangements for Easter Sunday, were very extensive and elaborate, and the music entirely Anglican. Less singing, more genuine prayer, with able and earnest preaching, would, as many think and feel, be a vast improvement in the services of this church. The choir is a partly paid one; and the organist, Mr. Buttery, of 173, Piccadilly, is highly esteemed both by the clergy and congregation, and no less so by the choir over which he presides. There are 720 sittings, 220 of which are free. There are no endowments; the church and services are supported by pew rents, valued at about 350l. per annum, and by the offertory, which raises about 440l. per annum. The numerous charities and the schools, together with the Water-side Mission Association, and one in aid of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, all have their distinct funds and resources; not at present to any large extent, but all capable of extension. There is a strong band of district visitors—consisting of fourteen or sixteen, chiefly ladies, with a few gentlemen, to whose care as many districts are allotted.