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
50_l._ 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.