ST. PAUL’S, Onslow-square, South Kensington, is a specimen of one of
those churches built not so much for effect as for utility. A church was
wanted in this locality at the time it was erected, and hence the idea it
gives one of having been built in a hurry. The plan of the church is
reversed, the Communion table being at the west end; but the architecture
is tame and poor. It may be said to be a perpendicular Gothic,—certainly
not an excellent example. The tower and spire have a stunted appearance,
and would have looked better a few feet higher. The inside is in the
fashion of a past age. Roofed in one space, there is no arcade; large
galleries run round three sides of the church, and to enable the reader
and preacher to be seen from these, a large and very tall pulpit and desk
are used, which quite shut out the west, or Communion end. There is an
entire absence of decoration, the church being almost Quakerlike in its
simplicity, and, to the searcher after the picturesque, contains but
little to interest. There is some coloured glass of geometrical
patterns, but not pleasant in tone.
For this church the district is largely indebted to the Christian
liberality of Charles J. Freake, Esq., of Cromwell House, a near
resident, and owner of large properties in the locality. The site and
two-thirds of the building fund, which amounted to about 14,000_l._, were
entirely from this source. Mr. Freake is also the patron.
On Sunday morning, the 23rd of April, some disappointment was felt at
this church through the absence of the esteemed Vicar, on rather a
prolonged after-Easter holiday. The Rev. Capel Molyneux—formerly of the
Lock Chapel, Paddington—is favourably known as a very popular and
attractive preacher. He is, also, distinctly Evangelical in his
ministry, and anti-Ritualistic in all his services, which are conducted
in the plainest style of outward devotion. Yet, out of one of the most
aristocratic centres to be met with around London, he has succeeded in
building up a very large congregation, upon whom he appears to have
impressed that form as the very ideal of Christian worship. And we
cannot refrain from saying that, as far as we could judge, a more lively
and earnestly devout congregation is rarely to be met with. The church,
which accommodates in all 1,600 persons—inclusive of 600 free
sittings—was well filled, to our eye, except in the galleries; but we
were informed the congregation was by no means equal to what it is when
the Vicar himself is present. His place, however, was very ably and
profitably supplied by the Rev. J. F. Sargeant, of St. Luke’s,
Marylebone, who performed the entire service, and discoursed extempore
with much pathos and power on the 23rd Psalm. There is no intoning in
the prayers, and no chanting or singing but in the _Jubilate_, the _Te
Deum_, the _Gloria Patri_, and the hymns; the latter being Psalms and
Hymns based on “The Christian Psalmody” of the late Rev. G. Bickersteth,
as compiled by his son, and sold by Dean and Son, Ludgate-hill—one of the
very best of all the collections extant. The organist, Mr. Carter, uses
an instrument by Bishop to good effect, and is accompanied in the vocal
parts of the music by a rather numerous and full-voiced choir in, of
course, plain dress. There is one assistant clergyman—the Rev. T.
Burrows—who was not present on the occasion. On Sundays there are three
services—at 11 A.M., 3.30, and 7 P.M.; Holy Communion on the first Sunday
in the month after the morning, and on the third after the evening,
service, and on the last Tuesday evening in the month. There is a usual
week-day service on Thursday evening at seven, and on the first Monday
evening in the month, at eight, there is a special service for working
men, when all the seats are thrown open. This, we understand, is a most
interesting and important service, and usually well attended.
Although St. Paul’s was opened by Bishop Blomfield on Christmas Eve, in
the year of our Lord 1860, there are no day or Sunday-schools identified
with it,—a fact in part resulting from the almost total absence of poor
people in the district. The circumstance is remarkable; but may find
some explanation also in the general character of Mr. Molyneux’s
congregation, and in the direction of its zeal and resources to other
Christian objects. We do not know whether, in London or out, any church
can be found so distinguished for Christian benevolence, in all its
social branches, as St. Paul’s, Onslow square. We have been familiar
with many grand doings of Christian people, but we have not in our
recollection any congregation which, as a whole, must feel it “more
blessed to give than to receive” than this one. It is no small pleasure
to us to record it as a matter of local Church history. Sometimes it has
been said that Church people do not understand the art of giving. If
there were any truth in this as a rule, we may point to St. Paul’s as a
noble exception. The clergy and the church are maintained solely out of
the pew-rents, and the offertory taken at the doors is for other
purposes; and the latter, commonly thought not the most effective mode of
making collections, yields an average of nearly 100_l._ per Sunday. The
offertory at the Communion is in full proportion. In addition to this,
the congregation supports a “Church Home for Destitute Girls,” for which
about 500_l._ a-year is contributed at sermons preached by the Vicar, and
in donations and subscriptions. An annual effort for the Church
Missionary Society results in little short of 300_l._ The Irish Church
Mission and Church Pastoral Aid Society are yearly united together in an
appeal, and the response to the last was taken at the doors, in the
morning, 53_l._ 10s. 9d.; and in the evening, 23_l._ 4s. 10d. The London
City Mission, we hope, recognizes in St. Paul’s one of its strongest
supports. The collection after sermon for this object amounted on the
last occasion to 108_l._ 18s. 4d., and the regular subscriptions swelled
the amount to over 450_l._ The “Jews’ Society” has also an annual
benefit. The “Consumption Hospital,” which is situated within the parish
bounds, has its funds replenished every year to a very important and
gratifying extent. At the last preaching of sermons on its behalf, there
was taken at the doors in the morning 70_l._ 10s., and in the evening
92_l._ 9s. 7d.—162_l._ 19s. 7d. All this is done in a general way; but
there are special occasions on which the distinguished charity of this
Church has shone forth with even greater lustre. We all remember what
national sympathy was evoked by the Lancashire Famine in 1862. The Rev.
Capel Molyneux made a collection for thirteen weeks in succession for
this object. On the first day—November 9, 1862—there was taken at the
doors in the morning 780_l._, and in the evening 299_l._ 9s. 9d., making
for the day 1,079_l._ 9s. 9d. In the twelve following weeks the gross
amount collected in the same way was 1,363_l._ 5s., making a grand total
for that patriotic object of 2,442_l._ 14s. 9d., which was duly remitted
to the Lord Mayor’s Committee. So recently as the 26th of February last,
a collection was taken up in relief of the Paris distress which reached
the figure of 229_l._ 16s. 8d. In the midst of all this we have further
to record that for the past five years this congregation and people have
contributed 600_l._ a-year towards poor and distressed churches in the
east of London. We repeat, we do not know where, with an average
congregation of 1,500, or where with any congregation, such figures as
these can be paralleled. We confess to a profound admiration of such
results. The persons who have contributed to them are known to
Omniscience; it is not necessary that they should be known to the world.
Although our architectural correspondent, from a professional point of
view, does not appear to think highly of the church, as a material
structure, it forms, to our eye, a very pleasing feature in
Onslow-square. Even outwardly, it breaks up the monotony of palatial
secular dwellings very agreeably; but religiously, morally, and socially,
it is a bright and beautiful spot, which we trust will shine and flourish
more and more unto the perfect day.