THE Church of St. Peter, situate in Onslow-gardens, South Kensington, is
a much more important church, on close examination, than a distant view
leads the observer to believe. There are not many good points from which
the church is seen, and the view from the north is cut up by the vicarage
recently erected, which we suppose is to form part of a terrace, but
which does not improve the general appearance. The west front, by no
means a fine composition, possesses some good details, and the tower and
spire, which form a portion of this elevation, do much to assist in
lending a picturesque effect. The spire is of very good design, but the
tower is too stunted, and, like St. Paul’s, would be improved by an
additional ten feet in height. The spire wears the appearance of having
been placed on too soon. Entering the church by the west door, the
perspective view is very effective and telling; this is mainly
attributable to the arcades, which, though of very simple Early English
character, are very well-proportioned; and the pointed triplet arcades at
the transept form a pleasing variety from the usual monotony of ordinary
church nave arrangements. The transverse arch at the transepts rather
takes from the perspective, and might with advantage have been less
depressed. A very peculiarly corbelled chancel arch—in shape like a
bishop’s mitre—is, we should think, unique. The arch, as originally
built, was too contracted; the chancel pieces have been cut away, and
large corbels introduced, suggesting the shape before referred to.
Indeed, if it had been possible to open the apsidal chancel a little
more, it would have been an improvement. The good general appearance of
the eastern windows, with their excellent stained glass, by Messrs. Ward
and Hughes, of Frith-street, Soho, is still very much obscured and lost.
The nave roof is light and well-designed, but not quite agreeable, being
somewhat too late in character. The details of the windows and
clerestory are all very simply designed, to accord with the style of the
church; the stalls, prayer-desk, and lectern, being somewhat in advance
of the chancel arch, are enclosed by a dwarf-stone screen, which
separates them from the body of the church. The font is very plain
indeed—indicative of the simplicity of baptism, we suppose—possessing no
ornamentation on the octagonal bowl save the monogram well cut in relief.
But it is in contemplation further to embellish it. The stone pulpit is
octagonal also, and has well-carved figures in relief of the four
Evangelists. The floor of the church is well covered with some rather
pretty benches, which, together with transept galleries, will contain a
congregation of about 1,500. The vestry is on the north-east angle of
the church, and the organ, quietly decorated, is placed in the south
chancel aisle. This instrument, which is a very superior one, was built
by Messrs. Hill and Sons, at a cost of 800_l._ It has three rows of keys
and 29 stops.
St. Peter’s was consecrated on St. Peter’s Day, June 29, 1867, by the
Bishop of London, Dr. Tait, now Archbishop of Canterbury. It was build
and presented to the district by Chas. J. Freake, Esq., of Cromwell
House, who is its patron, and the pulpit was the special gift of Mrs.
Freake. The parsonage is also built on ground given by Mr. Freake. The
district is composed of the area between the Fulham and the
Brompton-roads, including Elm-place, and in about the centre of which the
church stands, being at present only very sparsely populated. This
church, like many others in the suburbs, was built in anticipation of
future population, and meanwhile draws its congregation mainly from
beyond. It is, however, a large one, there being present at the ordinary
Sunday morning service over a thousand persons; but, almost without
exception, of the upper class. Strictly speaking, there is not a poor
person to be seen in it. There are few free sittings to mention; and
such as go by that name at the remote end from the chancel appear ready
to let as occasion may offer. Not that all the other sittings are taken;
for although the body of the church appears tolerably full, there are not
700 sittings really let—scarcely one-half the number provided. We
cannot, therefore, understand why the verger guards all that part of the
church so jealously, and when a stranger asks for a seat higher up tells
him with some peremptoriness that he cannot go. If, however, the Vicar
has no poor people within his church walls, the Rev. Gerald Blunt, Vicar
of Chelsea, has lately made him a present of 2,300, who border on his
district, to care for. This sacred trust the rev. gentleman is setting
himself to fulfil with zeal and diligence.
We must confess to some surprise, considering the evident social
character of the congregation, that the collections and offertory yield
comparatively so little. There are boxes at the doors for offerings
towards church expenses, and the highest sum received from this source in
one day, in 1870, was 4_l._ 19s. 5d., and that was on Easter-day. But,
taking the year through, it does not average one pound per week. There
is something in this more than ordinarily sad, for the people that go in
and out at those doors count their income not by hundreds, but by
thousands. The offertory is a more direct appeal, but it only yielded in
the year 184_l._ 16s. 9s. Altogether, including subscriptions (less
commission for collecting them), there was only 357_l._ 16s. 6d. raised
for church expenses. For the poor of the district, by offertories and
private donations, there was raised 144_l._ 1s. 6d. This sum was
disbursed in various outlays for the relief and comfort of the needy
poor. But how small the amount compared with the ability to do! There
is a day-school in Arthur street, connected with the church, for the
support of which from all sources, private subscriptions, collection
after sermon, &c., there was raised 305_l._ 19s. 11½d. Collections in
church for other than local purposes amounted to 121_l._ 6s., including
60_l._ 13s. for the Bishop of London’s Fund, and for the Chelsea
Dispensary and Victoria Hospital for sick children 60_l._ 13s. The
whole, therefore, of the visible liberality of this wealthy congregation
is at present summed up in the figures 985_l._ 1s. 2½d. per annum. We
trust that an era of larger heartedness will speedily dawn.
Congregations, as well as individuals, require to learn the art and
luxury of giving. It should not be passed without notice that Mrs. Byng,
assisted by a few young ladies of the congregation, has established a
Sunday-school and mothers’ meetings, which are in good working, although
as yet in their infancy. There are also an evening sewing class,
night-school and a clothing club, superintended and directed by Mrs.
Byng.
The Hon. and Rev. Francis E. C. Byng, M.A. (Oxford), was formerly of
Twickenham, from whence he was introduced to the new church of St.
Peter’s by its patron, Mr. Freake. He is a minister unquestionably
Evangelical in doctrine, and the ceremonial he has established in his
church is a _medium_ one, being at equal distance from excessive
plainness on the one hand, and High Church Ritual on the other. The
service is earnest and lively without over much singing; but what there
is of the latter is excellently done by a choir in surplices, under the
able direction of Mr. Arthur Sullivan, the organist; who, as a composer
and conductor in other than church music, has just earned himself no
small praise at the opening concert of the International Exhibition. Mr.
Sullivan has conducted the musical part of the service from the first and
it is owing to his zeal and talent that it has attained such efficiency.
The prayers and lessons were well read in a clear voice by the Rev. C.
Scholefield, M.A. (Cambridge), curate, the Litany being taken by the
Vicar. Both as reader and preacher, the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Byng, gifted
with a good voice and having a suitably animated manner, fixes and
retains the attention of his audience. His sermon on April 30 was from
Deut xxxiii., 25th verse, “And as thy days so shall thy strength be.” It
was the effusion of a devout mind, intelligently comprehending the trials
and experiences of our common life, and fully aware of the sole secret of
human hope and consolation. Though read there was nothing perfunctory in
the delivery, the preacher being sufficiently free from his manuscript to
put himself on a line with the eye, and we cannot but think with the
heart of all his hearers in every part of the church; occasionally even
turning to look into the galleries and into the chancel, that the
occupants of those parts may not think themselves forgotten. If all
preachers used their MSS. in the manner of Mr. Byng, and always made them
speak such excellent things, much of the current objection to their use
in public would vanish. In taking leave for the present of St. Peter’s,
we cannot but congratulate the people there on their beautiful church,
and the religious advantages they enjoy.