THE Wesleyan Chapel situate in the Denbigh-road, Notting-hill, is the
principal chapel of what is marked on the Methodist Conference plan as
the _Bayswater Circuit_. It was built in the year 1858, after the
designs of W. W. Pocock, Esq., architect, and is a fair specimen of the
Grecian style. In no religious body do tastes as to ecclesiastical
architecture vary more than among the Wesleyans. Some prefer the Gothic
of the thirteenth century, others the decorated Gothic of the fourteenth.
Some adopt the perpendicular of a still later date, whilst others hold to
the Grecian, which was the style in which Mr. Wesley himself built. The
Wesleyans of Bayswater have followed the original Connexional pattern,
but have erected a very neat edifice, which would be more effective as an
ornament to the neighbourhood but that its front falls slightly behind
the line of houses amidst which it stands, and cannot be seen except in
close proximity. The interior arrangement is noticeable for its combined
utility and elegance. The seats on the ground-floor are arranged in the
amphitheatre style, and all made to converge to the pulpit, so that every
hearer directly faces the preacher, and the latter has the most perfect
command of all his audience. There are galleries on three sides, and in
the west gallery is a good organ with ornamental pipes, played by Mr.
Brocklehurst, and a numerous choir of young persons of both sexes, whose
singing is lively and animating, the tunes being such as the congregation
can join in, and which it does with remarkable freedom and spirit. The
chapel has recently been repainted, and decorated very tastefully by Mr.
Hearne of London, at a cost of 450_l._ The occasion of our visit,
Sunday, September 10, 1871, was also the occasion of the re-opening after
a closing of five weeks for this purpose. The work is done in white and
gold, and the gilt on the columns, gallery fronts, and pulpit, which is a
wide platform structure, is ample, and, together with the light blue and
white and buff of the ceiling, contributes to make up one of the
prettiest and most effective interiors we have yet seen. The original
cost of the chapel was 4,500_l._, and it affords accommodation for 950
persons, 300 of the sittings being free. After retiring from their
former chapel in Queen’s-road, and securing the present site, the
Wesleyans, resolved not to build until secure of funds to complete the
work undertaken, first worshipped in a large room. Next, proceeding by
degrees, they erected their walls and put the roof on, and used the body
of the chapel in an unfinished state, and finally they built their
galleries, and completed the furniture, both of the chapel and
schoolroom; and, what is most gratifying to add, possessed themselves of
their beautiful sanctuary in its completeness entirely free from debt.
The Rev. W. M. Punshon, M.A., now President of the Canadian Conference,
was the first resident minister appointed to take charge of this new and
important enterprise. Under his popular ministry the congregation
rapidly increased and reached its full dimensions, which it retained to
the end of the three years itinerant term, every sitting being let and
occupied, and the aisles also generally being crowded. The Revs. J.
Rattenbury, George Maunder, J. D. Brocklehurst, who followed Mr. Punshon
in succession, were also highly popular and useful ministers, so that the
Denbigh-road congregation has enjoyed all the influence and advantage
that Methodism could supply, for raising up and consolidating a
prosperous church.
The able ministry with which it has been uniformly supplied is well
maintained in the present appointments, if we may judge from our own
hearing. The Rev. T. M. Albrighton, the superintendent minister of the
circuit, and especially attached by residence to that chapel, occupied
the pulpit; and after an impressive reading of the Church prayers, as
used by the Wesleyans at the morning service, preached an eloquent and
powerful discourse founded on Zech. vi. 12 and 13, “And speak unto him
saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of Hosts saying, Behold the man whose name
is the Branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build
the temple of the Lord; even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and
he shall bear the glory and shall sit and rule upon his throne, and he
shall be a priest upon his throne, and the counsel of truth shall be
between them both.” This fine text of Scripture was treated in a manner
indicative of its importance. The sermon was delivered extempore, but
well studied, and, we should say, previously thought out to the last
sentence. The discourse was replete with theological intelligence, and
threw much Evangelical light upon the text with which it had to do. It
was delivered too, with feeling, and evident intention of doing good; but
this paramount purpose, kept steadily in view, did not, as is too often
the case, disturb in any degree the order, method, and effect of the
sermon as such. If a sermon to be really good should have method, then
this sermon was quite an example. There was a suitable introduction, the
divisions naturally rose out of the words of the text, and the
peroration, delivered with deep feeling, brought it to a close, the whole
occupying three-quarters of an hour. The colleagues of Mr. Albrighton
upon the Bayswater Circuit are the Revs. J. S. Banks and Nehemiah
Curnock, who interchange pulpits with him and each other, but are more
particularly attached respectively to the congregations worshipping in
the Warwick-gardens and Bassin-park Chapels.
There is a present membership of 430—_i.e._, recognised members of the
Wesleyan body, by virtue of meeting in class—attached to the Denbigh-road
Chapel. Every department of Christian work appears to be in fair
activity. There is a good Sunday-school, having 450 children under
religious instruction. This school has an important feature in a young
men’s Bible-class, numbering about 100, under the conductorship of Mr.
Walter Heal. From this fact it is not difficult to conjecture the cause
of the presence of so many young men in the congregation as are to be
seen on the Sunday. There is also a Young Men’s Mutual Improvement
Society in full operation during the winter months. Associations for
visiting the sick, ministering to the destitute, distributing tracts,
&c., afford occupation to all willing to work; and these, we are
informed, are not few at Denbigh-road. The general efforts through the
year in aid of foreign missions are supplemented by the activity of a
“Juvenile Missionary Association,” who use their youthful influence as
occasion offers to advance the great work of the world’s conversion with
pleasing results.