THE new Church of “St. Michael and All Angels” embraces the northern part
of the District of All Saints’, Notting-hill, in its new extension
towards Kensal-green, in the Ladbroke-grove-road. No doubt, just at this
spot, there will, in time, be a middle-class population sufficient to
fill the church. But at present the property is new, and, therefore, it
would seem St. Michael’s must for some time to come draw from a distance.
The Vicar Designate, the Rev. Edward Ker Gray, was formerly curate to Dr.
Robbins, of St. Peter’s, Kensington-park, and has family connexions in
the neighbourhood, who have largely contributed to his present
enterprise; and the plot of land on which the edifice stands, and that on
which a parsonage is yet to be built, are the gift of Messrs. Blake and
Parsons, who are freeholders in that part. The style of architecture
adopted differs from that of most churches, being what is professionally
known as the “Romanesque of the Rhine,” and is executed chiefly in terra
cotta and ornamental bricks, by Mr. Cowland, of Notting-hill, under a
contract (exclusive of tower and fittings) for 4,300_l._ The architects
are Messrs. Edmeston of Crown-court, Old Broad-street; and the plan
consists of a nave ninety-nine feet long, exclusive of chancel and
western apse, by forty-three feet wide, roofed in one span, with an
eastern, western, and southern apse, leaving a northern apse to be added
at some future time. On the north side the church is hidden by houses,
and it is seen to best advantage at the south-west angle, where it will
form rather a picturesque object, when the grouping of tower, turret,
apse, and gable are added to the view. The interior is yet unfurnished,
and only sufficiently fitted up for the performance of worship. The
pulpit, desk, organ, and chancel furniture are all temporary. The
contract for the decoration is given to Messrs. Howland and Fisher, who
decorated St. Peter’s, Bayswater, which is considered one of the
handsomest church interiors in London. About 1,000 sittings are
provided, applications for which are requested. The occasion of our
visit was the service of consecration, in May, 1871, conducted by the
Right Hon. and Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of London. There was a good
congregation present; and immediately after the entrance of the Bishop,
Mr. Shephard, the Registrar of his Lordship’s diocese, read the petition
of the Vicar, Churchwardens and parishioners praying for the consecration
of the church. The Bishop having replied, “I am ready to consecrate this
church, according to the prayer of the petition,” a procession was as
once formed, headed by the parish beadles with their staves, followed by
the churchwardens, Bishop, and clergy, who slowly walked round the
church, the Bishop repeating the usual service. On returning to the
Communion Table, the deed of conveyance was formally received and laid
upon the table by the Bishop. The prayers for the ordinary morning
service were read by the Rev. Mr. Gray, the Psalms, Te Deum, and hymns
being chanted by a choir of good voices, male and female, blending well
together, under the direction of Mr. Sydney Naylor, organist. On
ascending the pulpit the Bishop took for his text, John xvii. 6, “I have
manifested thy name to the men which thou gavest me out of the world,”
&c. The subject was divided into three parts: 1. What name he
manifested. 2. How he manifested it. 3. The character of the persons to
whom he manifested the name of his Father. These topics were worked out
with great clearness of thought and felicity of utterance; the Bishop
steering delicately through the difficult problem of Divine
predestination and human free will, and rendering the point as
satisfactory as it ever can become to mortal reflection. A very feeling
individual application of the subject to the congregation concluded the
discourse. It is about twelve years since we had the pleasure of
listening to Dr. Jackson at a confirmation service in a small town in
Lincolnshire, and it is gratifying to observe the same doctrinal safety
and thorough practical bearing in his ministry which struck us at that
time. He also bears his increased years well, displaying a freshness in
his appearance and a vigour equal to if not superior to himself more than
a decade since. A collection was made after sermon from pew to pew
towards the organ and church expenses, and the remainder of the Communion
Service and the benediction concluded the whole. It ought to be noticed
that a number of the local clergy were present, and that the Rev. Dr.
Robbins read the first lesson—the consecration of the Temple by
Solomon—in a most impressive manner, and the Rev. J. S. Gell the few
verses which compose the second lesson. The Bishop’s chaplain, the Rev.
Mr. Fisher, also assisted in the service within the chancel rail.
Mr. Gray’s ministry is reported Evangelical in its character, and his
service lively and devotional, without Ritualistic features. The
congregation gradually increases, and it is hoped that ere long the
furnishing will be completed, and that the church will answer all the
purposes for which it was built in that rising population. The
Churchwardens are Captain N. W. Boyce and J. D. Cowland, Esq., and the
services are: Sundays at 11 A.M. and 3 and 7 P.M. Weekdays, Wednesday
and Friday at 11 A.M., the Litany, Holy Communion, at 9 A.M. every
Sunday, and after the 11 A.M. service the last Sunday in every month.
Baptisms at 2.30 first Sunday in the month, and at 10.30 A.M. on
Wednesday and Friday.