THE Church of St. Barnabas is situated in the Addison-road, and can be
seen with pleasing effect from the main road. In the distance the
brickwork has a nice grey tone about it, and harmonises well with the
stone dressings and tracery and the contrast of the mounting ivy round
the pinnacled buttresses gives a picturesque appearance which is much
assisted by pretty surrounding foliage. A nearer view, however, is
somewhat disappointing as to architectural detail, in which it resembles
the chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, which is generally considered
the best example of perpendicular Gothic. The west elevation is worthy
of description. The gable and pierced parapet partially conceal a
low-pitched roof, which is flanked by open bell turrets. The centre of
the gable is occupied by a large perpendicular window above the western
entrance to the church. This consists of a centre and two side doors
opening into a corridor or vestibule, giving access to the body of the
building and to the galleries right and left. Flights of steps lead up
to the several entrances, which are enclosed by rather lofty railings and
gates. The interior, roofed in one span with sub-arcades or columns, is
finished with a flat ceiling, relieved and pannelled by horizontal bands
and kerbed ribs. Large galleries surround three sides of the church, and
at the west end a double tier. At first sight these galleries look
almost unsupported, the iron columns are so slender as well-nigh to
escape observation. The body or ground floor is fitted with simple
square pewing, divided by a centre and two side passages. Close to the
western doors stands a bold font, a fair specimen of perpendicular work.
The pulpit is tall and plain. The prayer-desk, lower and more ornate, is
placed on the north side of a very simple chancel arch, before which the
very handsome bronze eagle lectern stands slightly elevated. The chancel
is a simple recess, and its entrance is occupied by stall benches. The
front of the altar is pierced with tracery, which has a good effect. The
east window is filled with stained glass of Georgian school design,
strongly reminding us of the Church of St. Dunstan, Fleet-street, where
there is a similar window.
[Picture: St. Barnabas Church, Addison Road, Kensington]
Three windows on the north side and four on others are also filled with
stained and quarried glass, with designs of a better school.
The organ, a fine instrument by Walker, is at the west end in the
gallery, and well decorated.
It is now forty-three years since this church was consecrated, and during
the last eighteen years it has been under the same incumbent, who has
been one of the Kensington Clergy for nearly thirty years. It occupies a
large district in the west of Kensington, and has itself, in progress of
time, become a parent church to several others which have risen within
its bounds. St. Philip’s and St. Matthias are districts formed out of
it; and the more recent erection of St. John the Baptist’s Church in the
Holland-road marks a still further development. It has also a separate
appendage to itself in the “Church House” in the Warwick-gardens, which
has been built to accommodate the surplus of its regular congregation,
sanctioned by the Bishop, and served by its own clergy. Here invalids
who cannot conveniently attend the larger congregation, and such as
cannot for the present obtain accommodation there, are invited to attend.
In point of fact it is altogether a separate church served by the Vicar
of St. Barnabas and his curates. As, however, it is treated simply as an
out-building of St. Barnabas—and is used for the transaction of its
various parochial business—we must consider it as included with it.
[Picture: St. Barnabas Church House, Warwick Gardens, Kensington]
St. Barnabas’ Church has accommodation for about 1,500, and its morning
congregation averages from 1,200 to 1,400, looking well filled. The
evening congregation, however, is much smaller, as a rule, as is the case
with most West London churches. But we may attribute this partly to the
existence of an afternoon service, at which there is public catechising,
which is very fully attended. The church is daily open, and the Holy
Communion is celebrated every Sunday. There is no High Church costume,
or parade of surpliced choristers, but there is a most efficient choir,
who fill the space in front of the organ in the end gallery. On the
occasion of our visit, which was St. Barnabas’ day, June 11, the church’s
annual Feast of Dedication, the performance consisted in a Gregorian and
other much more pleasing chants in D and A, with hymns special to the
occasion. The Gregorian strain never pleases; and seems to us adapted
mainly to break up and destroy the natural form, music, and sense of the
English tongue. There are three curates, who perform their subordinate
parts in the service with great propriety and credit. Such only who
could accomplish this would be at all in keeping with the character of
the chief pastor. Dr. Hessey has a matured, well-cultured Christian
mind, in addition to learning, and natural talent and taste for the
duties of the pulpit. There is also a gravity and kindliness in his
general manner and utterance which leaves one in no doubt as to the
secret of his power. The sermon on the occasion of our visit was an
anniversary one, and as being confined to a portion of appropriate
historical Scripture (Acts xi, 26), did not offer scope for the full
exercise of the preacher’s powers. Yet the evidence of their existence
was there.
The clergy are supported chiefly by pew-rents, and there are offertories
and collections for various charities, missions, and other objects. For
the poor, for schools, missions, choir, incidental church expenses, the
Bishop of London’s Fund, in aid of hospitals and other charities, there
was raised altogether in 1870 704_l._ 11s. 10¼d. Out of this it is found
impossible to provide for the heavier church expenses. A church-rate is
also levied, to which it does not appear what response is made. We have
reason, however, to believe that no large sum is thus collected, or the
churchwardens would have been able to spend more on the decoration of the
church. There is clearly room for considerable improvement here, and we
hope there will be no great difficulty in providing means to carry out
the church repairs which are so much needed. The whitewasher, painter,
and grainer might in the interior be employed with good effect.