OF ESTABLISHED CHURCHES there are 25 in Kensington, giving 30,020 seats,
or an average of 1250 each; and of this number, 10,883, or rather more
than one-third, are free.
Of NONCONFORMING CHAPELS and other places, such as rooms or halls, 25,
furnishing accommodation for 15,550, of which 5370 are free seats.
The ROMAN CATHOLICS have four churches, which are the foremost of that
persuasion in London. The Pro-Cathedral provides 1100 seats, inclusive
of 150 free; the Oratory 1200, 200 being free; the Church of the
Carmelite Friars 800, none free; and that of St. Francis 500, none free.
There is one NON-SECTARIAN CHURCH, the Talbot Tabernacle, with 800
sittings, 200 of them free; and two Non-Sectarian Halls, with space
together for 400.
The FOLLOWERS OF SWEDENBORG have one Chapel, with accommodation for 1000,
no seats being definitely free.
Thus it will be seen that all the denominations together supply 49,070
seats, more than three-fifths of which are found by the Church of
England; 15,550 by Protestant Nonconformists; and the remainder 3500 by
Roman Catholics.
The numbers allotted to English Nonconformity stand as
follows:—_Baptists_, 7450; _Congregational_, 2600; _Wesleyan Methodists_,
2250; _Primitive Methodists_, 300; _Scotch Presbyterian_, 600; _Plymouth
Brethren_, 150; _Non-Sectarian_, 1200; _Swedenborgians_, 1000, =15,550.
The Established Church is, therefore, relatively strong in Kensington;
and when we consider that the whole of this Church accommodation, with a
single exception or two, has been provided by voluntary effort, and
without the slightest pecuniary aid or benefit from the State, it must be
accepted as a striking evidence of the popularity of that Church.
The principal parish Church, now just completed and about to be opened at
a cost of but little under £40,000, is built entirely upon the voluntary
principle. We have only heard of one instance in all this mass of
property in which a helping hand has been extended, even by the Bishop of
London’s Fund, and then only to the extent of about £2000. West London
Churchmen have been deemed capable of doing their own work, and have been
left to do it, and certainly they have done and are doing it.
It is also to be observed that the different ecclesiastical schools in
the Church, by mere dint of rivalry, have done comparatively little in
this great work. There are three or four decidedly Ritualistic Churches;
two or three High Church; two Broad Church, which affects doctrine
chiefly; and all the others are really and truly Evangelical Churches,
and varying but very slightly, if any thing, in form and ceremony.
Church extension may, therefore, be regarded as a genuine and earnest
out-come of English protestant Churchmanship, prompted by higher motives
than those connected with Ecclesiastical disputes.
Among the nonconforming bodies, the BAPTISTS are by far the most numerous
here. It is, however, very observable that they do not appear to base
the strength of their cause upon their denominational views as to Baptism
by Immersion; but in every case except one, and that a very small Church,
have what is called “open communion,” and admit to fellowship Christian
believers of good repute generally, even though they disagree on that
denominational point. They are, therefore, to be distinguished from the
_Ana-Baptists_, who insist upon re-baptism before communion; whilst they
are equally far removed from the _Particular Baptists_, who preach
particular Redemption. The peculiarities of Calvinism are rarely, if
ever, heard from their pulpits. The body, then, that have obtained in
Kensington, it may be of some importance to remember, are the _General
Baptists_, who are characterized by liberality of sentiment, both as it
regards Church conditions and doctrinal teaching. The largest of these
Churches is that of Westbourne Grove, under the pastorate of the Rev. W.
G. Lewis.
CONGREGATIONALISM is not largely represented in Kensington, and mainly
centres in one or two Churches, viz. that presided over by the Rev. Dr.
Stoughton, in Allen-street, formerly of Hornton-street, and that at
Horbury Chapel, under the Rev. W. Roberts,—the former being the older and
larger Church. This is highly vigorous and prosperous, and has been
progressively so under the now lengthened ministration of Dr. Stoughton.
Aided by the well-known Catholic sentiments of this minister,
Independency, in the parish of Kensington, has received a breadth of
sympathy with Christian people of other denominations which enables it to
maintain the most friendly relations with all.
WESLEYANISM has not hitherto displayed the popular adaptation here by
which it is characterized in many parts of the country, not excepting the
chief centres of population. Its efforts, however, in this direction,
are yet young, and cannot be expected to have gathered the strength and
influence of age. It finds, moreover, at least in this part of the
metropolis, abler, keener, and more active rivals than in rural parts, or
in most provincial towns. The Wesleyans, from their _connexional_
principle, have an immense advantage over other bodies, as it regards the
mere building of places of worship, for which, if they chose, they need
not be in the least dependent upon mere _local_ effort. If recommended
by Conference, a general subscription for a first-class chapel in
Kensington would be opened in the connexional organs, and closed in a few
weeks, with surplus funds at the bankers, over the amount actually
required for the purpose. This is a wonderful material facility for any
Church to possess, and if the raising of material fabrics were
necessarily signs of real success, then it is quite certain that no
nonconforming body in the land could compete with the Wesleyans. But in
the present condition of society, and distribution of the Churches and
Church influences, if there is not sufficient interest in any given
locality to build a Chapel wholly or mainly at its own cost, there is but
little probability of creating a sufficient interest for the future by
simply making it a present from a distance. It might or it might not
succeed; but the probability is that it will not. One body of Christians
cannot be every where, and there must be some points at which it will be
weak.
SCOTCH PRESBYTERIANISM is also without vigorous expression in Kensington.
Always and every where an exotic Southward, it does not seem greatly to
flourish. It is a mission, established mainly for the benefit of Scotch
residents or travellers, and was never intended to interfere with our
native religious and Ecclesiastical growths. Yet we are glad to see it
among us. It is a great way of showing how _united_ the _United_ Kingdom
is, and our Scotch brethren, with their northern crispness and rigidity,
ought to be perfectly at home with us.
In touching on ROMANISM, we have it in this large suburb in all the
strength and fascination with which it has hitherto been imported into
the metropolis. Here the wealth of its richest English adherents and
foreign residents combine with the talent of its foremost men to give it
popular effect. This has been accomplished to a limited extent only; for
the result at present is by no means commensurate with the efforts put
forth. Yet Protestants may not slumber upon this fact. Romanism here is
making a distinct and anxious bid for popular sympathy and local
influence, and presents a calmly active energy and fertility of resource
which might awaken vigilance if it need not create alarm. Its preachers
are eloquent and earnest, its Churches and ritual are gorgeous and
costly, its music is enchanting, its monastic orders, its conventual
settlements, and all their attached agencies are quietly and ceaselessly
at work, and their schools, are diligently plied. Just as we go to
press, the foundation stone of a new “Home” is laid at Kensal New Town,
and with it, ground taken up for a large Church. This is hard by the new
Protestant Church of “St. Andrew’s and St. Philip’s” on the one hand, and
the Baptist Chapel on the other. No stone is being left unturned; and
should Ultramontane projects fail in this part of the suburbs, it will be
a grievous discouragement to it all over London. It was the promised
land marked out for Romanism by Cardinal Wiseman, and Archbishop Manning
is striving to lead the people up to possess it. Should he ever succeed
in a conspicuous degree, it will be owing as much to Protestant
shortcomings as to his own efforts no doubt; but at present there is, on
this head, but little reason to complain as far as building of Churches
and Chapels is concerned.