THIS is an iron church, situate in the Talbot-road, Notting-hill, and a
few steps only from and on the same side of the road as “All Saints’”
Church. It has the same general features as all the iron buildings, but
is larger than most of them, having an end gallery, and affording ample
accommodation for one thousand persons. The north end or chancel is
occupied with a platform, which serves as a pulpit, and the benches of
the auditorium come close to it. It is well warmed with a stove, and lit
with plain gas pendants; and altogether has a very comfortable
appearance. The history of this building must be traced in connexion
with the career of Mr. Gordon Forlong, a name now well known in and
beyond the immediate scene of his labours. This gentleman is a Scotch
barrister, who, a few years ago (in 1856), felt moved to give up the
pursuit of his profession for the work of an evangelist. His endeavours
to make known the Gospel appear to have been highly appreciated in his
native Aberdeenshire; and were soon sought for in different parts of
Scotland and in Edinburgh, where Mr. Forlong spent some time. After a
trial, however, he found that the condition of an itinerant preacher,
with a family, became impracticable, and resolved on seeking a settled
charge in London. Here his first appearance was in the Victoria-hall,
Archer-street, in October, 1867. The hall, which he hired on his own
responsibility, was generally well attended at his services, and
continued to be used by him until 1869. In the latter half of that year,
the present building was secured at a cost in all of 2,000_l._, to be
liquidated by instalments, there being also a ground-rent of 96_l._ per
annum. Apart from a little aid which Mr. Forlong has drawn from his
friends in the North and elsewhere, the whole financial obligation of
this enterprise has rested with himself and the friends who have been
inclined to assist him on the spot. That it has been a great struggle is
not surprising. At the end of the first year there was a balance on the
wrong side of the sheet to the amount of 476_l._ 1s. 9d., which, being
paid by the minister, left the total amount advanced by him for the
church 714_l._ 9s. 6d. This, it may be hoped, has been ere now
discharged by the congregation; more especially as up to the present
time, the minister’s services, both at the Hall and in the new church,
have received no remuneration. There are about 150 sittings, let at from
4s. to 30s. per seat per annum; and there are church-boxes for weekly
offerings and various collections through the year. This together may be
considered a sufficient financial basis to work upon, in order to place
the concern, not long hence, in a free and prosperous condition.
Mr. Gordon Forlong rejects the title of Reverend. Having never obtained
or sought ordination in any church, he looks upon himself as a lay
preacher of the Gospel, called and set apart by God only; and treats with
indifference and even contemns all ministerial titles and peculiar
functions, as looking in the direction of priestcraft, which he abhors.
He has, from the first, taken his special mission in the neighbourhood to
be to oppose Ritualism, which he found developing itself on his arrival,
and to call together a people to exemplify spiritual religion. To these
objects he has certainly confined himself with great steadiness, and not
without success. A number of persons, it is said, find refuge at the
“Tabernacle” who have been alienated from their mother Church hard by
through Ritualistic practices; and the truth of this statement, it
appears, cannot be challenged. The character of the church and
congregation which Mr. Forlong has formed is _non sectarian_, and does
not allow itself to be called either Baptist, Congregational, or
Wesleyan, or anything else but the Church of Christ; although the mode of
conducting the service may be described as a free adaptation of any and
all of these. Along with the reading of the Scriptures there is
_exposition_. The hymns used are gathered from all the Nonconformist
collections, under the title of “Psalms and Hymns,” published by Elliott,
of Tichborne-street. It contains selections from the principal
writers—Watts, Doddridge, Toplady, Wesley, &c. One we heard sung was one
of the finest and most impassioned of the latter author, commencing—
O Love Divine, how sweet thou art!
When shall I find my willing heart
All taken up by thee?
I thirst, I faint, I die to prove
The greatness of redeeming love,
The love of Christ to me!
This was sung by the congregation to a lively tune and with good
devotional effect. At the close of this, the preacher read a number of
requests for special prayer from members of the congregation for specific
objects stated on the paper, connected with their personal or family
experience, and some of thanksgiving for former prayers answered. This
took considerable time, and was followed by a brief petition, giving a
general utterance to these supplications. The sermon was extempore, and
founded upon Psalm xxiii. Probably it should be termed a free address,
intended to bring out, by scriptural illustration, the character of the
Redeemer as the “Great Shepherd.” Mr. Forlong does not appear to believe
in the ordinary style of sermonising, or “philosophising” on distinct
portions or mottoes of Scripture; and has adopted the plan of turning his
audience into a great Bible class. They follow him systematically
through chapter and verse from beginning to end, and the preacher simply
connects the sense of the passages, and pauses here and there to enforce
a passing thought. The expositor, however, is animated (as most
Scotchmen are), and familiar in his illustrations; and as to Scripture
itself his system is highly instructive. The sermon lasts about forty
minutes. There were about 400 present, on a very inclement morning.
There is a Sunday-school attached, with a good voluntary staff of
teachers, conducted morning and afternoon in the Golborne-Hall, having
200 children of both sexes. The public services are, Sunday morning at
eleven; evening at seven; and prayer-meeting on Thursday evening.
Communion service on the first Sunday in the month at the morning
service, and the second Sunday at the evening service. This service is
administered without written form, and by handing round the bread and
wine to the communicants in their seats. All religious persons are
admitted to it by introduction to the minister.