THIS is one of the plainest of buildings for religious purposes, low and
uncommanding, and almost lost even among the humble dwellings amidst
which it stands—a simple meeting-house, with a stuccoed front, but
looking neat and clean, having been recently repaired and painted, and
the walls newly coloured within, giving it a fresh and healthy look. The
pewing is of a humble character and unvarnished, and the pulpit plain and
high. There is a gallery in the west end, which, added to the
accommodation on the ground-floor, gives about 250 sittings, the ordinary
congregation being at present about 100. The church and people are
Strict Baptist in persuasion. Upon the corner-stone we find the
following inscription: “This stone was laid by Messrs. Foreman and Wells,
Oct. 13, 1851. The chapel is for the use of the _Particular Baptists_.
P. W. Williamson, Pastor. J. Cook and T. Rowley, Deacons.” The chapel
has thus been in existence twenty years. The church—never very vigorous
or flourishing—has had a chequered history, disputes having arisen among
its members from time to time upon subjects relating to its internal
affairs, and which resulted six years ago in a division, further
weakening its situation and diminishing its few members. From this blow
it appears never to have recovered, there being now no more than between
fifty and sixty acknowledged members. The present minister is the Rev.
C. W. Banks, who has been there one year, and the cause is supported by
pew-rents and voluntary weekly offerings. A “Free-will Offering” box is
fixed on the inside of each entrance to the aisles, and on every
succeeding Sunday the amount so collected is placed in large figures
against the side walls. On the occasion of our visit, the account for
the previous Sabbath stood thus: “Loose money, 3s. 8d.; in thirteen
envelopes, 10s. 3d.” The preacher had a strong voice, and exerted it
even beyond the natural requirements of his small audience; but at times
it would be almost impossible to hear him if he did not, in consequence
of the noisy costermongers, who shout one against the other in the narrow
street and immediately in front of the chapel, without any regard to its
presence or the service proceeding within. This is certainly a crying
evil, and should attract the attention of the police. We had no idea
that vegetable and other carts (hand and donkey drawn) were so numerous
and noisy during the hours of Divine Service, as we witnessed them in
Johnson-street, and other adjacent back streets and ways in the rear of
High-street, Notting-hill. Surely there is yet need for a “Suppression
of Sunday Trading Society.” There is a small Sunday-school, attended by
a few self-denying teachers, and the public services are—Sunday at eleven
and half-past six; prayer meeting at three P.M. Wednesdays, preaching at
half-past seven; and on Monday evenings, prayer-meeting; and a special
monthly prayer-meeting every first Friday evening in the month. There is
manifest care under difficulties for the Christian work.