CLOSE to the Mall and the High-street, Notting-hill, is a large,
gloomy-looking structure of the Classical School, not that it is by any
means a good example of classical work; it is heavy and badly
proportioned as regards its stucco-pediment cornice and columns, the
latter engaged, and the spaces bricked in and filled with window and
doors with stucco dressings. The interior we are not able to report
upon, the chapel being without a congregation.
This chapel was built nine years ago by Mr. Robert Offord, of Kensington,
for his brother, the Rev. John Offord, then of Plymouth. It appears to
have been originally designed for a Baptist Chapel, being provided with a
baptistry; but the Rev. Mr. Offord from the first gathered around him
Christian people of all denominations, and formed what may be termed an
open union church. Of this he was the minister about seven years, and
won himself high esteem with all who could appreciate Christian learning
and excellence of character. He was not in the general sense popular as
a preacher, but drew around him a goodly number of admiring friends, and
the congregation prospered. The chapel contains accommodation for 1,000
persons, and the average congregation in his time was between 600 and
700. The chapel, however, was the private property of Mr. Robert Offord,
and it had never been settled upon trust for the benefit of the church,
but had, in fact, been hired by the congregation of the owner, at a
rental of 200_l._ a-year. The consequence was that, when the owner died,
about two years ago, some confusion ensued in the affairs of the church.
The minister and his friends, not feeling equal to the task of
undertaking a chapel in no degree their own, were inaugurating
arrangements to remove to some other place, when, in the providence of
God, the minister himself—surviving his brother but by a little time—was
called away by death. The chapel was then put into the market for sale,
and was bought for 5,500_l._ by the late Dr. Schwartz, of well-known
German Jewish origin, but converted to the Protestant faith and
ultimately a Presbyterian minister. As a condition of concluding the
purchase, the property was made freehold, which must be a great advantage
to all subsequent owners. This was all in last year, and Dr. Schwartz
entered upon his labours, but only for a short time. Six months after
his commencement, and only six weeks after his formal induction by the
presbytery to the pastorate, he, too, was called to his rest. And now,
the chapel still having remained private property, the prospects of the
church became as clouded and uncertain as ever. It was put again into
the market by the executors of Dr. Schwartz, in the interests of his
widow and family, and was brought to the hammer at the Mart, in
Tokenhouse-yard, on the 14th of June last. The matter had now been taken
in hand by the presbytery on behalf of the church, and they instructed
their solicitor, Mr. Lewis, to attend the auction and bid for the church
to the extent of 5,000_l._ He, however, found himself at the Mart, in
presence of a powerful competitor unknown to him, but who seemed resolved
to outbid him. He was induced to exceed his limit by 225_l._, but, being
still pressed, declined to follow on his own responsibility, and,
accordingly, the chapel was knocked down to the highest bidder, who
turned out to be purchasing for the Swedenborgians. Mr. Finney, a
wealthy merchant of Manchester, had made this body a present of
10,000_l._ for the purpose of establishing a cause in Kensington. Hence
the sharp competition into which they entered for the edifice, which was
obtained by them for the sum of 5,000 guineas. It is intended to build
an organ, and make other improvements, and in four or five weeks to open
it as the place of assembling for the “New Jerusalem Church,” or, in
other words, the Swedenborgians. None appear to regret more than the
friends of the Presbyterian cause themselves the passing entirely away
from them, and from the use of Orthodox Protestant Christianity, of this
well-situated and commodious structure. They would have given, and on
the next day one of them offered a very considerable premium to the
purchasers to relinquish their bargain; but, although remarking that had
they known it was the congregation of the chapel itself bidding against
them they would not have persevered, they nevertheless held to their
purchase. The Congregational Church is at present meeting in the Mall
Hall, where they hold Divine Service every Sunday, and are making inquiry
for an eligible site, on which, as soon as secured, they are prepared at
once to build.