THE Church of St. John the Baptist is a temporary iron structure, and,
like most other buildings of the sort, offers no point for architectural
notice. It is, however, very good of its kind, and is, externally—as
seen in the comparatively vacant part of the new Holland-road in which
its stands—more picturesque than some others we have had to review. But
the approaches to it are at present quite unformed, and when autumn and
winter returns—unless something be done—the state of the road can
scarcely be expected to help the congregation. We are glad, however, to
hear that road improvement is in immediate contemplation. The interior
is fitted with plain benches, and the temporary chancel neatly arranged,
with a slight tendency to ornament. The church was at first rented from
the builder, but has since been purchased. It has sittings for about 900
persons, of which one half from east to west are free. Of the other half
a proportion only are at present let, at rentals varying from 1_l._ 1s.
0d. to 30s. per annum; so that a great majority of the congregation
appear to avail themselves of the free seats. The church was opened in
February, 1869, being planted in and intended to form a sub division in
the ecclesiastical division of St. Barnabas, Kensington. The Rev. George
Booker is incumbent and vicar designate. The rev. gentleman is at
present without assistance in the services, except on Sunday evenings,
when the Rev. Dr. Cosmo R. Gordon, minister of St. Mary’s, Park-street,
Grosvenor-square, and head-master of the Notting-hill Collegiate School,
is lecturer. In consequence of this arrangement, the Sunday evening
lectures at this church are highly appreciated, Dr. Gordon being a
talented and an esteemed preacher. The Rev. G. Booker, we believe, has
set before him in the services—“To realise the spirit of the Prayer-book
_as it is_, and not as any extreme party, High or Low, would wish it to
be.” There is, however, nothing in the general service but what is
reconcilable with High Churchism, although it does not appear to be
intended. Unisonal chanting has been introduced within the last few
weeks, on account of its greater volume of sound, the acoustic qualities
of the church being very indifferent; but partly, also, from the
difficulty felt in this as other churches in keeping together a complete
double choir for antiphonal singing, where the services of the lay-clerks
are voluntary. There is, however, a great preponderance of chanting in
monotone, and this, whilst the minister intones his parts in the service,
gives to the whole the impress of High Church service. There is a
four-part surpliced choir of considerable efficiency, and one is apt to
think it might appear to greater advantage in another style of singing.
But the Rev. Mr. Booker is personally a minister of an earnest,
evangelical type. His reading of the Scriptures is deliberate and most
appropriate in tone and manner, and his sermon is by no means stultified
in deference to the other parts of the service. This is a great merit.
The sermon we had the privilege of hearing was founded on Luke xvi. 9:
“And I say unto you make to yourselves friends of the mammon of
unrighteousness; that when ye fail they may receive you into everlasting
habitations.” There was a very clear exposition of the parable of the
unjust steward, and the right use as against the abuse of riches was
cogently put, with a due amount of illustration and enforcement. We do
not remember to have listened to a more instructive, practical, and
useful treatment of this somewhat delicate subject.
The maintenance of the clergy, church expenses, interest on purchase
money, &c., are objects to which the proceeds of the pew-rents and weekly
offertory are devoted. The former source of income is at present limited
and undeveloped. The offertory, up to this time, averages about 330_l._
per annum.
There is a very excellent middle-class school in connection with this
church, conducted by Mr. Studdy, a B.A. of the London University. In
this school the boys of the choir are amongst the pupils and have their
education free.