AT the moment of our writing, St. Mary Abbotts, Kensington, is, in a
literal sense, without a parish church. The old one has passed away, and
the new one is in course of erection. There is, however, _the_ church,
with its long, chequered, and interesting history and associations of the
past, and, we trust, its equally interesting and still more glorious
future. The Venerable Archdeacon Sinclair, the present vicar, his
churchwardens and friends must feel themselves the subjects of peculiar
and pleasurable feelings as being the chief actors in the great change
now coming over the site lately occupied by the old church, and thus
placing themselves on a line with a long and eventful history. We must
go back far into the middle ages for the origin of the parish church of
Kensington, and to the days of dark Papal rule in the land. In the time
of Henry I. we read of this church being bequeathed, on his deathbed, by
Godfrey de Vere, Lord of the Manor, to the Monastery of Abingdon. It
was, however, shortly after claimed by and restored to the Diocese of
London, in which it has ever since remained. This was in the thirteenth
century. The first endowment of the Vicarage was in 1260, and from time
to time it received consideration from various monarchs. In 1520 Queen
Mary accorded to it a portion of the 7,000_l._ granted by Henry VIII. in
augmentation of the living of incumbents and scholars in England. The
history of the old Saxon church is bound up with that of the manor, which
was bestowed, inclusive of the rectory, upon various noblemen by royal
grants under several reigns. The collation of the vicarage has belonged
to the Bishops of London, _pleno jure_, about 390 years. While the
Reformation was yet struggling against Papal tyranny, as though we were
to have a forecast of the Evangelical type and freedom which have marked
this church in after times, it possessed a martyr. Not one, indeed, led,
as far as we know, to the stake, but cruelly driven from his position and
living, and possibly to temporal ruin. In 1527 Sebastian Harris, the
curate, was proceeded against for having in his possession a translation
of the New Testament and a book entitled _Unio Dissidentium_, containing
the doctrines of Luther. He was, for this _criminal_ offence, cited to
appear before the Vicar-General in the long chapel, St. Paul’s Cathedral,
and required there to make oath that he would not retain these books in
possession any longer, nor sell them, nor lend them, nor make any
acquaintance with any person suspected of heresy, and finally adjudged to
quit London within twenty-four hours, and not to come within four miles
of it for two years!
[Picture: The New Church of St. Mary Abbotts, Kensington, 1872. The
Venerable Archdeacon Sinclair, Vicar]
The late church began to supersede the first in 1683. The population
even then was said to increase, and the inhabitants, to provide for the
increase, built a new aisle on the south side. In the beginning of 1695
the north aisle and chancel were supplanted by others of larger
dimensions; and in 1696 it was resolved to take down and rebuild the
whole church, excepting the tower at the west end. The cost of this was
met by subscription. King William gave 300_l._; the Princess Anne
100_l._; Earl Craven 100_l._; the Bishop of London 50_l._; and the Earl
of Warwick 40_l._; the entire expense amounting to no more than 1,800_l_.
_ _Bowack, who visited the church in 1705, thus describes the rebuilt
church in his “Antiquities of Middlesex”: “In form quadrangular, somewhat
broader than long, 80 feet from north to south, and hardly 70 from east
to west. Paved handsomely with Purbeck stone. The pewing and galleries
very neat and convenient. The pulpit and chancel handsomely adorned with
carving and painting.” It might be added that the pulpit and desk were
the gifts of King William the Third and Queen Mary, in addition to their
contributions to the building fund. The pulpit has a crown inlaid with
the initials, “W. & M. R.,” and the date, “1697.”
In 1704, the defects of the recent work evincing itself so clearly by the
cracking of the building, it was found necessary to take off the old
roof, pull down the north and south walls, and rebuild them; which was
done at a further outlay of 1,800_l._
Again in 1772 the church underwent a thorough repair, and the old Gothic
tower was taken down and the later one erected.
Once more in the year 1811 the church showed signs of decay, and it was
necessary to underpin the walls, rebuild the vaults, and entirely
renovate and adorn the interior. This was done at an expense of
5,000_l._, which was met by a church-rate of sixpence in the pound,
spreading over three years. This church, now spoken of as the “old
church,” was a plain brick structure, with no pretensions to
architectural display. The interior was composed of nave, chancel, and
two aisles, separated by wooden pillars supporting the galleries. It was
spanned from the entablature of six wooden columns over the nave, and
three large brass chandeliers wore suspended from the ceiling. There was
the royal pew curtained round in ancient style, which long continued to
be used by high personages from the Palace. Here the Duke and Duchess of
Kent and the late Duke of Cambridge worshipped; and from this very pew
the Duchess returned thanks after the birth of our present gracious and
beloved Queen Victoria. The brows of other distinguished persons have
been seen within the old walls. Sir Isaac Newton, Addison (after his
marriage with the Countess of Warwick, of Holland House), Lady Margaret
Macdonald, “Lady of the Isles,” Wilberforce, George Canning, Sir David
Wilkie, Lord Macaulay, Thackeray, &c.—all of whom were residents in
Kensington, were attendants at the parish church. Such were the minor
glories of the former house.
[Picture: Church of St. Mary Abbotts, Kensington, 1872. The Venerable
Archdeacon Sinclair, Vicar]
In 1866 it was seen that its fate was sealed. Competent architects
pronounced that it would not be safe to use it for public worship more
than two or three years beyond. The closing services were held on
Whit-Sunday, May 16, 1869, when sermons were preached by the Bishop of
London in the morning and by the Vicar in the evening. The church was
crowded—said, indeed, to be “packed to the ceiling.” Collections made on
the occasion towards the new building fund amounted to 265_l._ The
church contained no less than 114 monuments and tablets, among which one
in white marble was most conspicuous, dated 1759, in memory of the Earl
of Warwick, the Countess, and their daughter, Lady Charlotte Rich. The
Earl is represented sitting, resting his arm on an urn and clothed in a
Roman habit. All the monuments were carefully removed before the church
was pulled down, and some, it is expected, will be reinstalled in the new
edifice.
[Picture: Design of Organ for new Church of St. Mary Abbotts, Kensington.
Built by Hill & Son, London]
At first it was thought that the entire enterprise of the new parish
church could not be undertaken at once, for want of funds, and it was
resolved to proceed by degrees, laying the foundation and building vestry
and chancel, with a temporary nave. But the funds shortly realised and
promised encouraged the deacon and churchwardens to build the whole of
the fabric at once, with the exception of tower and spire. The estimated
cost of the work when completed is 35,000_l._, the tower and spire alone
being estimated to cost 10,000_l._ of the amount. The fine old ring of
bells—eight in number—which have quickened and delighted the ears of
Kensingtonians for many a long year, will find a place in the new tower
and be heard again, and probably their joyous music be listened to by
generations to come. The spire, when completed, will be 240 feet from
the base to the vane. The estimated cost of the interior fittings, pews,
pulpit, screen, and altar is 4,460_l._ The church will be brilliantly
lit with gas, and warmed with hot water on the most improved principle.
The length of the interior is 155 feet, and its greatest breadth 100
feet, and is capable of accommodating 1,600 persons on one floor. There
will be no galleries. The style of the building is Gothic, a specimen of
the transitional period from the early English to the decorated, and the
architect is Mr. Gilbert Scott R.A., of Spring-gardens; the contractors
Messrs. Dove Brothers, of Islington; and the grotesque and other carving
with which the church is ornamented is executed by Messrs. Farmer and
Brindly. The external material of the building is Kentish rag, with
selected Bath-stone dressings. From what can be seen of the work in
progress, the ample Bath-stone turrets and mouldings will add much to the
effect of the building. In the interior there is no plaster, but the
whole of the church is faced with solid Bath ashlar. There are on plan,
nave, side aisles, and transepts. The nave will be 107 ft. and the
chancel 48 ft. long, and 27 ft. wide; the aisles are 14 ft. 6 in. wide.
There are also chancel aisles, and on the north side of the chancel an
organ chamber, and the tower—the tower space being occupied with a
vestry, from which the clergy will pass to the chancel by a vestibule.
The font is on the north side of the west door; it is intended to be a
very handsome marble one, with a conical cover, the cost being 400_l._
Several ladies in Kensington are exerting themselves to raise funds for
this particular work. The principal entrance to the church is on the
west side, and the door has a sumptuous carving in Bath stone over it.
The next principal entrance will be on the south side, through a porch,
and another on the north side. A scheme is projected by the ladies of
the congregation, and a plan is now preparing by Messrs. Clayton and
Bell, to fill the whole church with painted windows. Should this be
accomplished, and the eminent firm mentioned be employed to carry it out,
it will doubtless add vastly to the effect of the interior.
[Picture: The Old Church, High Street, Kensington. In Memoriam
1697–1869]
It is hoped and expected by the Vicar that the church will be opened by
Easter next (1872). A very fine organ is now being built for this
handsome fabric, by Messrs. Hill and Son, of the Euston-road, at a cost
of about 1,200_l._, to be provided by a separate fund. This instrument
has three manuals and a pedal organ. _Great Organ_—containing double
open diapason and bourdon, 16 feet; open diapason, 8 feet; ditto, No. 2,
8 feet; gamba, 8 feet; stopped diapason, 8 feet; principal, 4 feet;
harmonic flute, 4 feet; 12th, 3 feet; 15th, 2 feet; mixture, 4 ranks;
Posaund, 8 feet; clarion, 4 feet. _Choir Organ_—open diapason, 8 feet;
dulciana, 8 feet; Gedact, 8 feet; Gamshorn, 4 feet; Wald flute, 4 feet;
flautina, 2 feet; clarionet, 8 feet. _Swell Organ_—Bourdon, 16 feet;
open diapason, 8 feet; salcional, 8 feet; stopped diapason, 8 feet;
principal, 4 feet; Suabe flute, 4 feet; 12th, 3 feet: 15th, 2 feet;
mixture, 3 ranks; horn, 8 feet; oboe, 8 feet; clarion, 4 feet. _Pedal
Organ_—CCC to F, 30 notes; sub-Bourdon, 32 feet; open diapason, 16 feet;
violone, 15 feet; Bourdon, 16 feet; principal, 8 feet; 15th, 4 ft.;
trombone, 16 ft.; 5 couplers. Up to the present time about 24,000_l._
has been received and promised to the Building Fund, to which Her Majesty
the Queen subscribes 200_l._ It will be seen, therefore, that a large
proportion of the money has yet to be raised, although no doubt is felt
that public spirit will display itself in connection with this great
public object, so as to relieve the promoters of all anxiety as to the
speedy and successful termination of their work. Archdeacon Sinclair is
the treasurer of the fund, and the Rev. W. Wright, of 2, Bath-place, the
secretary. The present churchwardens are Charles Greenway, Esq., of 3,
Bath-place, who has filled the office for sixteen years, and Robert
Harvey, Esq., of 92, High-street, Notting-hill, who has been in office
for two years. Attached to the parish church there are national schools,
with 200 boys and 130 girls; an infant school with 200; and a
ragged-school in Jennings’-buildings—a notoriously low part of the
town—with 60 or 70. There is also an industrial school for young girls,
where 35 or 40 are taught various useful domestic works. There are
Sunday-schools answering to the day-schools; also a district visiting
society, composed of ladies and clergymen who visit the poor and
distribute alms; and annual collections are made for missionary and other
religious and charitable purposes.
The venerable Archdeacon Sinclair has been Vicar for the last twenty-nine
years, and was appointed Archdeacon soon after his accession to the
Vicarage. It is known to be a wealthy living, but its exact value cannot
be precisely stated. The net value, however, is estimated at 912_l._ per
annum. The Vicar is well known and admired both for the elevation of his
personal character and his able and truly Evangelical ministry. He is
now well stricken in years—being seventy-four years of age—but retains a
notable degree vigour, and preaches regularly twice every Sunday, at
present to the congregation of St. Paul’s, Palace-gardens, one of the
chapels of ease to the parish church. Christ Church, Victoria-road, is
the other. Associated with the Vicar in the spiritual work of the parish
are at present four curates, the Rev. W. Wright, M.A., the Rev. E. T.
Carey, M.A., the Rev. G. Averill, M.A., and the Rev. J. J. T. Wilmot,
M.A.
The principal congregation of the old church are, during the re-building,
worshipping in the vestry-hall adjoining. Here we had the pleasure of
uniting with them on the morning of Sunday, Oct. 15, 1871. The service
is a reflection of what it was in the old temple, and what, under the
venerable vicar, it is intended to be in the new. It was plain devout
Church of England service, earnest and as inspiring as it could be in a
plain hall. The officiating clergyman was the Rev. J. J. T. Wilmot,
M.A., who took the whole of the service and preached the sermon. The
latter was a faithful exposition and application of 1 Tim. i.
16—“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Some very pointed remarks
on the evils of the lust of riches, and the value of the gain of
godliness, were delivered in a clear and sonorous voice, and pointed with
familiar illustrations. The impression on our minds was that such a
method of conducting worship, and such a style of pulpit or platform
discourse, cannot but be the means of doing great good.
(_See Notes_.)