The Scotch Presbyterian Chapel stands at the corner of the Foxley-road and Allen-street, and is a fair specimen of geometric gothic. Of course it requires the tower to be finished to make it the good architectural object that it should be in the long perspective of Allen-street; yet it is even now fairly prominent, and is substantially built of Kentish rag with Bath stone dressings, and roofed with slate. The principal entrance is on the north side, over which is a large and rather noticeable window, and the rose window in the west gable, too, seems to invite the visitor to an inspection of the interior. Passing through a very plain corridor or vestibule, the body of the chapel is immediately entered to the right and left hand. A feeling of disappointment it is impossible to repress ensues. The interior in no way accords with the idea conveyed by the outside inspection. It is roofed in one span, and heavily ceiled and panelled, producing a sense of depression. The walls are simply bare plaster, the pulpit very large and heavy, the pewing poor and plain. A northern gallery, evidently intended for an organ, is organless, and not much improved by large curtains. The Presbyterian movement in Kensington began in 1861, under the present pastor, the Rev. Gavin Carlyle, in a hall in Holland-street. After about a year’s labour in this place some forty or fifty members had collected, and it was then resolved to build a church. A site was first sought in Campden-hill, but was not to be found there. Ultimately the present site was scoured, the building commenced in July 1862, finished in May 1863, and opened on the 24th of that month, and the Rev. Mr. Carlyle, was formally ordained to the charge on June 2nd following. Since then the progress has been steady; and the membership has increased to between one and two hundred. The church is connected with the English Presbyterian Church, and the late Dr. Hamilton, of the latter, took great interest in it, and did much to originate it. It will contain 500 persons, and cost to build 5,280l.; by the addition of galleries, it would be capable of accommodating 700 or 800. There is no endowment, and the minister is dependent upon pew-rents and voluntary offerings. A Dorcas Society is kept up by a few ladies; and collections are made annually for foreign missions and other objects. The Duke of Argyll is a seatholder and frequent communicant; and other persons of general and literary distinction. At a meeting a few weeks since, at which the Duke of Argyll presided, several Indian and other notabilities were present, including Dr. Macleod, Sir Bartle Frere, Sir Wm. Hill, &c., who had assembled to hear a lecture on India, by Dr. Wilson, of Bombay. The Rev. Gavin Carlyle is an M.A. of the Edinburgh University, and studied theology in the Free Church College, Edinburgh, followed by a year’s study in Germany. He is a nephew of the famous Edward Irving; and editor of his uncle’s “Collected Writings,” published by Strahan and Co. He is also editor of the Weekly Review, the weekly organ of Presbyterianism in England; also of Christian Work, a monthly journal of religious and missionary intelligence. Mr. Carlyle’s congregation is at present a small one compared with many; but on the occasion of our visit his sermon was certainly such as to justify a larger attendance. It was the first of a series of discourses on the Ten Commandments, and founded on the first “I am the Lord thy God,” &c. The distinct existence and all-pervading presence and control of the Almighty was the subject. It was well and clearly treated, in a manner to meet the principal intellectual quibbles or difficulties of the times; and the preacher proved to the satisfaction of every thoughtful mind—to use his own words—that “all reason speaks to us of God; and that it is nothing but unreason and mystical cloudiness that attributes the effects of Nature to any other cause or operation,” and that science when rightly conceived is “the handmaid of religion.”
THE EPISCOPAL CHAPEL, BROMPTON.
The Brompton Episcopal Chapel, situate close to the Brompton-road, in Montpelier-street, is a structure strictly Georgian in its character, Georgian indeed to the back-bone, if one may be allowed to use such an expression ecclesiastically. It has no beauties to make it worthy a visit in the search after the picturesque. It is simply ugly outside, and very little more may be said of it inside. It rather reminded us of old Kensington Church, without its historical interest. Like all buildings of the kind, it has its painted columns supporting a flat ceiling, and high-back gallery. It has its high pulpit and prayer-desk, each duly draped in hot velvet, its high-backed pews comfortably shut up and cushioned, in fact, everything belonging to it is high, only that it would be too much to call it High Church.
This chapel attained its centenary in 1869, being opened on Easter Sunday, 1769, as a chapel of ease to the parish church of Kensington. The Rev. Richard Harrison was the first minister, who was a preacher of some note, and continued his labours to the end of life, which occurred in 1793. A tablet to his memory may now be seen on the south side of the Communion-table. Since then the course of the ministry has been somewhat chequered, and not always connected with the happiest reminiscences. Although so ancient a chapel, it appears to have been generally poor, and the only relic it contains of bygone days is a set of old pewter collecting-plates, having the original engraving, “The Parish of Kensington.” The building is now seen in every respect as it was at the beginning. It has successfully resisted all modern innovations; no alterations of any kind have taken place, excepting that a coating of stucco has been bestowed upon the front. The same is true of the character of the public service. It has rigidly preserved its own unadorned plainness, against all the ecclesiastical refinements of later years. The clergy are ordained ministers in the Church of England, and licensed by the Bishop of London, and the present are the Rev. W. Dunford, who is also the private owner of the property, and the Rev. W. Crofts Bullen, assistant minister. The latter was doing duty at the time of our visit, with rather a thin congregation, but showed considerable earnestness, read distinctly and audibly, and preached in his black gown an extempore discourse on Rev. iv. 3. The sublime passage was expounded by references to other parts of Scripture, connected with some plain, out-spoken utterances applied to the audience in a fearless and faithful manner. Regarding the text as symbolical of the Holy Trinity—it being Trinity Sunday—the preacher knew nothing about “the liberality of faith in the nineteenth century.” There was “a severe and hard line to be drawn between the believer and unbeliever, the saved and the unsaved.”
The Episcopal Chapel will hold about 800 persons, and the congregation averages from 400 to 500. Having no endowment, the clergy rely only on seat-rents and quarterly collections for church expenses, which are made by passing the pewter-plates round to the assembly in the pews. There is a good Sunday-school carried on in the chapel, morning and afternoon, with about 130 scholars, a number which it is said might be greatly added to but that the Churchwardens will not allow more space. This unfavourable condition, however, the zealous superintendent, Mr. Warder and teachers, assisted by the children, are seeking to remedy, having opened among themselves a weekly subscription towards a separate and commodious schoolroom. The weekly pence already contributed amounts to 50l. This is a most worthy example; and it may be hoped that some large-hearted persons outside the school, may some day or other feel inclined to encourage by large gifts so laudable an attempt at self-help. The school is also provided with a library by subscriptions of the teachers and churchwardens, from which books are lent free of charge. The Sunday-school is an interesting feature at this chapel, and is said in the neighbourhood to be highly prized by the children themselves, who are reported to be most regular in attendance. The services are—Sunday, morning at 11, evening at 6.30; Wednesday at 7 p.m.; the Lord’s Supper on the last Sunday in the month. The hymn-book used is a selection of psalms and hymns arranged by the Rev. Charles Kemble, M.A.—the 1853 edition.
ONSLOW CHAPEL.
Onslow Chapel, situate in Neville terrace, Brompton, has many pretensions to Gothic architectural effect. It is slightly decorated in design, and somewhat early. Long before the two churches were thought of, between which it now stands, St. Pauls and St. Peters, its two little spires could be seen like landmarks in the surrounding plain. It is one of those early attempts of the Nonconformists to establish a better style of architecture in their buildings for public worship. The west front is, however, all of which it can boast, the inside being of true chapel type, consisting, one may almost say, of a large hall, ribbed and vaulted in plaster. The western gallery adds to the accommodation for sittings, and the body of the chapel is well filled with simple pewing. The pulpit is tall, and backed up by the organ. In the usual way the Vestry is at the east end. The foundation-stone was laid by that great and good man, the Hon. Arthur Kinnaird, in 1856.
This chapel was built fifteen years ago, for the church then meeting in Alfred-place, under the pastorate of the Rev. G. Bigwood. It seats 650 persons, and cost 6,000l. But this outlay included, besides the chapel-proper, convenient class-rooms, and a spacious schoolroom which runs back on a line with the chapel into Neville-street, and is now mentioned as Onslow Hall, a suitable place for meetings and lectures. The Rev. G. Bigwood’s ministry lasted about eighteen years, and he was succeeded in 1870 by the Rev. Joseph Upton Davis, B.A., the present pastor. The minister is a Baptist, but the membership is open to Christians of other Evangelical communions. As a preacher, Mr. Davis has considerable gifts. To a pleasing manner and voice there is a goodly share of refinement, general evidence of culture, and preaching ardour, which are essential to the modern pulpit. “He that hath an ear let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches” was solemnly enforced, and the dwellers in Laodicean ease—the “neither cold nor hot”—were keenly rebuked, although affectionately dealt with. The congregation was not a full one; but it was pleasing to note that with very few exceptions all remained to the Communion service, which immediately followed the first service. The hymn after the sermon was followed only by the benediction, briefly rendered, which, as a rule, is somewhat unlike Nonconforming services, in which the preacher generally offers a short prayer, having some reference in spirit to the matter of the discourse. A Sunday-school is conducted in the schoolroom, where, under management, 400 scholars assemble morning and afternoon, superintended by Mr. Mayers. The general services are—Sunday morning at 11, evening at 6.30, Thursday evenings at 7, and communion the first Sunday in the month.