A SOMEWHAT heavy-looking, but substantial structure in the
main-thoroughfare attracts the attention of every passer-by at the
west-end of Westbourne-grove, occupying also the corner of the
Ledbury-road, where it intersects the Grove. It was intended to be in
early English style, and so we presume it must be considered, although it
does not strike one as realising the ideal in a very impressive degree.
It is, however, slightly decorated, and has something of the details of
early work. It is solidly built of Kentish rag, with Bath-stone facings,
having two flanking towers, surmounted with stone spires. In addition to
the principal entrance, over a flight of steps in the front, these towers
afford access to the galleries, to which, also, there are two other
approaches from without, at the north end of the chapel, one on each
side. This is the largest chapel we have yet seen in West London; and
the space within is economised to the utmost extent by gallery
accommodation, there being double galleries on three sides, two having
nine rows of seats. These, with the pewing completely covering the
ground floor, give accommodation for 2,000 persons. The great feature of
the interior is massiveness, which is only slightly relieved by an
ornamental panelling on the gallery fronts, and a modern platform pulpit.
When pretty well filled, as we saw it on the morning of Sunday, the 17th
of September, 1871, the place has an imposing effect. On the north side,
behind the pulpit, there is an apse, with an organ and a few singers,
answering well the purpose of leading the large congregation, which joins
heartily in the musical parts of the service. There are also behind the
chapel proper, six spacious rooms for Bible-classes, committees, &c.,
which is a noticeable feature, affording great facility to the several
societies attached.
The Baptist Church now worshipping at this chapel was originally formed
at a small chapel or meeting-place in Silver-street, Kensington
Gravel-pits, in the year 1823. Its first settled pastor was the Rev. W.
Southwood, who laboured with it from 1826 to 1830. The Rev. John Broad
succeeded in 1831, who occupied the post for ten years; and was followed
by the Rev. John Berg in 1841, the Rev. F. Wills in 1843, and by the Rev.
W. G. Lewis, the present pastor, in 1847. Mr. Lewis preached his first
sermon April 11 in that year, and was formally ordained in the following
September. The progress made through these years—and especially under
the latter pastorate—is sufficiently told by the fact that the first list
of members appearing in the church book in 1826 included only seventeen
names, whilst the list in December of last year (1870), numbered as many
as 725. The small chapel in Silver-street becoming too strait for the
growing cause—after considerable research—the prominent and important
site of the present chapel was obtained and built upon in 1853, at an
entire original cost of 5,500_l._ Since then galleries were added in
1859, at a cost of 579_l._, and in 1866 a considerable enlargement took
place, at a further grand outlay of 5,895_l._, so that the chapel as it
now stands represents an expenditure of about 12,000_l._ Thus,
apparently by a course of uninterrupted progress, within the last quarter
of a century has grown up a very large and powerful church, which takes
rank with the first of West London churches for numbers, for wealth, for
influence, and for its multifarious Christian labours. There are few
finer instances of the effect of the Voluntary principle in religion to
be found, whether we look for them in the Established Church or in
Nonconformity. In the year 1870, 668_l._ 5s. 6d. was received for
pew-rents, and the weekly offerings amounted to 198_l._ 16s.; collections
at the Lord’s Supper, 106_l._ 2s. 8d. There are large Sunday-schools,
with 632 scholars of both sexes and all ages, and a capital school
library of 500 volumes, to which 371 of the scholars subscribe. Towards
the expenses of the school the church contributed 32_l._ 2s. 5d., and
from this and its other sources of income, after paying its expenses, the
school contributed 53_l._ 6s. 7d. to the Baptist Missionary Society, in
addition to 100 dresses which were made and sent to a mission station in
Western Africa. An “Evangelical Mission,” the object being tract
distribution, sick visitation, &c., obtained from the congregation to
assist its work 24_l._ 3s.; the London City Mission, 88_l._; Baptist
Missionary Society, 165_l._ 8s. 2d.; a Soup Kitchen, coals and bread,
23_l._ 10s.; Children’s Friend Society, 10_l._ 5s. 4d.; Maternity
Society, 4_l._ 1s. 10d.; a “Ladies’ Working Society” produced 27_l._ 9s.
7d.; a “Mother’s Meeting,” by which nearly 200 poor women were assisted
in providing clothes for themselves and families, 115_l._; and a “Young
Men’s Mutual Improvement Society” raised 84_l._ 2s. 7d. Besides all
these, and independently of them, the congregation contributed 524_l._
5s. 1d. towards the reduction of a debt still remaining upon the chapel,
the whole representing an income and an appropriation of 2,469_l._ 19s.
11d. In connexion with the Children’s Friend Society there is a
penny-bank, which received in the year 224_l._ 3s. 8d. deposits. It must
be evident to all, that great and sustained effort, and some self-denial
in the moving spirits of these various operations, can alone account for
such results. The Rev. W. G. Lewis might well be congratulated upon the
health and energy he has been enabled to bring to bear on this work, and
upon the most efficient aid he has found ready to his hands in the
numerous and zealous church and congregation over which he presides. As
to the general character of his pastorate and ministry, their abundant
acceptableness and usefulness are sufficiently manifest from their
duration, and from the present aspect of affairs at Westbourne-grove.
Twenty-five years’ continuous ministry to the same church, and things all
round still healthy, vigorous, and flourishing, places a minister almost
beyond criticism, if any were disposed to indulge it. Mr. Lewis appears
to be an earnest and affectionate pastor, and calculated to govern a
church without destroying it, and to its building up in the unity of
faith and love. He is undoubtedly an able and gifted minister of the New
Testament, discerning the spiritual requirements of his charge, and
skilful in meeting them by bringing out of the treasury “things new and
old.” Speaking from our own observations and information, the whole of
his service, from beginning to end, is religiously profitable and
instructive in a very high degree. Having a good voice, capable of
elocutionary effect, under the control of a well-furnished mind, his
sermons are refreshing in their originality of conception and their
terseness, yet completeness of expression and illustration, so that the
hearer, at the close, feels that he has neither had too much or too
little, but has been fed with intellectual and spiritual food “convenient
for him.” Mr. Lewis is well known as Editor of the _Baptist Magazine_,
which has been for twelve years under his management. The subject of
discourse was Mary of Bethany and the alabaster box of ointment (Matt.
xxvi. 13). The force of the Divine love working in the human heart, and
illustrating the effects of the Saviour’s love to the world, was
appropriately set forth. Its power, its freedom, its breadth,
inventiveness and self-sacrifice in devotion and doing good, were set out
in vivid contrast to the narrow bonds of worldly conventionality and of a
cold-hearted time serving religious profession. The good work which Mary
did against the Saviour’s burial was symbolical of his own “good work”
which he did by giving himself for us. “Very costly, and embodying all
that he could give.” The hours and order of service at this chapel are:
Sundays, 7 A.M., prayer-meeting; 11 A.M., public worship; afternoon: 3
P.M., Bible classes; 6½ P.M., public worship; 8 P.M., prayer-meeting.
Monday evening at 6, prayer-meeting for females only; 7, general
prayer-meeting. Baptism by immersion administered as occasion arises.
The Lord’s Supper on the evening of the first Sabbath in each month at 8.
Church meetings on the Friday before the first Sunday in the month, at 7
P.M.
The deacons are Messrs. Fenn, W. B. Head, Rabbeth, W. Dearle, J. R.
Philips, G. Lindup. The city missionary attached is Mr. J. Browne.