Rev. William George Trousdale, B.A.--The Mission Buildings situated
in Woodgate Street and Ponton Road, Nine Elms Lane, have lately been
enlarged by the Misses Baily of Esher, at a cost of over £1200. The
church contains sittings for 250. There are in connection with the
Mission, Sunday Schools, two Mothers' Meetings, Girls' Bible Class,
Girls' Sewing Class, Recreation Room for Girls, Provident Club, Penny
Bank. It is also proposed to establish shortly a Working Man's Club
and a Crêche, for which there is ample accommodation in the Mission
Buildings. Services--Sunday at 11 and 7, Wednesday Evening at 8,
Children's Service the 3rd Sunday in the month at 3.
ST. ALDWIN'S MISSION CHAPEL, (Rochester Diocesan Society) Poyntz Road,
Latchmere Road, was opened on Sunday, 12th September, 1880, at 7 p.m.
It will comfortably seat 300 persons. St. Aldwin's district is formed
partly out of St. Saviour's and partly out of Christ Church parish--the
latter ceded the Colestown Estate, the former handed over Latchmere
Street and Road, and the cluster of streets which is surrounded by
the triangle of railways. Mission Curate--Rev. T. B. Brooks, M.A., 2,
Nevil Villas, Albert Road. Mission-woman--Mrs. Monk, Mission House, 25,
Poyntz Road.
"Both young men and maidens, old men and children; let them praise the
name of the Lord."--Psalm cxlviii. 12-13.
"Blessed is the people who know the joyful sound: they shall walk O
Lord, in the light of thy countenance."--Psalm lxxxix. 15.
"Thy power to save!" thrice happy they
Who taught of Thee delight to pray,
Rejoicing in Thy love:
Now clothed in righteousness divine,
The heirs of glory,--soon to shine
In realms of joy above.
A pastor's warning voice!--"Take heed,
Whilst by the sunny banks you feed
Of England's good old Church!
Live close to Jesus;--not on forms,
Lest, unprepared for coming storms,
You founder in the lurch!
Heed well the Word--the joyful sound,
The Gospel of our God--still found
To point straight up to heaven:
Beware of sounds of 'yea and nay,'
For God's own 'yea' is man's sure stay,
Not Pharisaic leaven."
The presence of the Lord is found
Where love, and joy, and peace abound,
Fruits of the Spirit's Word;
Where Christian hearts unite in prayer
In Jesus' Name--the Lord is there,
Jehovah, Jesus, God.
There are two Roman Catholic places of worship in Battersea, viz.:--
THE CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND ST. JOSEPH, situated in
Battersea Park Road, was built by a lady of the name of Mrs. Boschetta
Shea (of Spanish extraction, and whose husband was an Irish Protestant)
in 1868, and put under the management of the late Very Rev. Canon
Drinkwater, who retained the control of the church and adjacent
buildings, including the Convent of Notre Dame and Girls' School, the
St. Joseph's Boys' School, and the New Church lately erected. The Duke
of Norfolk gave £500 towards the building fund for the new church.
Within the grounds adjoining the Convent are kitchen and flower gardens
with a gravel walk and a very compact grotto.
In the month of May, the month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary,
there are processions in the grounds every Sunday afternoon in which
boys and girls take part, singing hymns in honour of "our Lady." The
Boys' School is of an oblong shape, and is governed by the Xaverian
Brothers, including several pupil teachers. Subjects taught: reading,
writing, arithmetic, grammar, English, Roman and Grecian history,
geography, mathematics and the Roman Catholic religion.
CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART, Trott Street, is an Iron building with
turret and cross, opened 10th of October, 1875. It was built by the
Countess of Stockpool at a cost of £700. The freehold site of land
including one acre cost £1,000. Priest, Rev. McKenna. New Schools have
lately been erected.
THE OLD BAPTIST MEETING HOUSE, York Road, Battersea, was erected in
1736, but a church was not formed for sixty-one years afterwards.
About the year 1755 the Rev. Mr. Browne became Officiating Minister,
and for forty years preached to a small congregation, but as his age
and infirmities increased the number of attendants on his ministration
diminished till he had not more than four or five persons to hear him;
enfeebled and disheartened he resigned, and in 1796 a young man, then
a Student at Bristol Academy, afterwards well known as the Rev. Joseph
Hughes, M.A., supplied the pulpit with so much acceptance that in 1797
a church was constituted, and he, in the 29th year of his age, was
elected to be the pastor. The constitution and order of the church thus
formed may not be uninteresting, it reads as follows:--
"We, the undersigned, desirous of the privilege connected with
religious fellowship and a stated ministry, having already sought the
Lord, and we trust, chosen Him as our Sovereign and Friend, do hereby
give ourselves afresh to each other, according to the Divine Will,
that being united in a Christian Church, we may render mutual aid, as
fellow-travellers from earth to heaven; and, though we firmly embrace
the sentiments peculiar to the Baptists, yet, espousing with equal
determination the cause of evangelical liberty, we welcome to our
communion all who give evidence of a change from sin to holiness; who
appear to love our Lord Jesus Christ, who are willing to be accounted
learners in His school, and who wish to be enrolled in connection with
us. And we hope it will be our united endeavour, and the endeavour of
such as may hereafter be added to us, by all means to keep the unity of
the Spirit in the bond of peace; to mingle faithfulness, spirituality
and affection in our intercourse; strictly to regard the Divine
Ordinances--so far as we know them; and to walk before the Church, our
families, and our God, worthy of our heavenly calling."
Under the Rev. Joseph Hughes's ministry the work of God took deep root
here and greatly flourished. By his energy, learning and eloquence,
and his connexion with different local societies for the promotion of
religious worship, he was brought acquainted with Mr. Wilberforce,
Mr. Vansittart, and Mr. Perceval, by whose aid he established the
"Surrey Mission Society." At a meeting of the Religious Tract Society
he afterwards promulgated the idea of an institution for supplying
not only the inhabitants of the British Isles, but _the whole world_,
with copies of the Holy Scriptures; and hence arose the Bible Society,
of which Mr. Hughes was joint Secretary until his death. Mr. Hughes
expired on Thursday evening, October 3, 1833, in the 65th year of his
age. His mortal remains were interred in Bunhill Fields.
"John Foster derived much spiritual benefit from his friendship with
Mr. Hughes of Battersea Chapel with whom after he left Chichester he
resided for a time, and it increases not a little the debt of gratitude
due from the Christian community to that excellent man, that though his
own authorship was limited to a few pulpit productions, and his sphere
of duty was one of action rather than of meditation, he performed the
noble office of stimulating the exertions and cherishing the piety of
one of the most original and influential religious writers of his age."
Mr. Foster says "the company who made sometime since an establishment
at Sierra Leone in Africa, have brought to England twenty black boys
to receive European improvements, in order to be sent when they are
come to be men to attempt enlightening the heathen nations of Africa.
They have been placed in a house at Battersea for the present till some
kind of regular and permanent establishment shall be formed, and I
have been requested, and have agreed to take the care of them for the
present."--_Foster's Life and Correspondence_, Vol. I. p. 58-60, edited
by J. C. Ryland, A.M.
The Rev. Edmund Clark held the Pastorate from Spring of 1834 to
Mid-Summer, 1834--three months. He was succeeded by the Rev. Enoch
Crook, who was two years and a half Pastor of the Church, viz., from
Mid-summer, 1834, to 1837. A tablet to his memory is placed on the
wall in the vestry of the chapel. Subsequently from January, 1838,
it was the scene of the labours of the Sainted Israel May Soule, who
for thirty-six years was Pastor of the Church of Christ assembling
here; he faithfully discharged his ministerial duties; his doctrine
was truly evangelical; his services unremitting and his deportment
exemplary--beloved by his flock and highly esteemed by Christians of
other denominations for his large liberal-heartedness, sound judgment
and unsectarian spirit. It was he who first conceived the idea of
enlarging the Old Chapel and had a model in his study to represent the
style of alteration which his own mind suggested with a view to meet in
some humble measure the growing and increased spiritual wants of the
neighbourhood. However, instead of enlarging the Old Chapel a second
time, he used strenuous efforts and succeeded in having the Old Chapel
demolished and a commodious place of worship erected on its site. The
Chapel was enlarged and repaired in 1842 and the freehold purchased
and put in trust at a total cost of £1,000. In 1868 the requisite
land for further enlargement of the Chapel was purchased. The present
handsome Chapel involved an outlay of £5,000, erected in the Romanesque
style from the designs of Mr. E. C. Robins. The accommodation on
ground-floor and galleries is for 900 worshippers. The open timbered
roof is one span, and the building is faced with white bricks with
Bath stone dressings. It was constructed by the late Mr. John Kirk.
The same architect has recently enlarged East Hill Chapel, Wandsworth.
The memorial stone of the New Chapel was laid by Field Marshal Sir G.
Pollock, G.C.B., G.C.S.I., on the 8th of June, 1870, being the 33rd
year of the Rev. I. M. Soule's ministry; the building was completed by
the end of the year, so that Mr. Soule had the pleasure of conducting
the opening services January 1st, 1871. Previously to his coming to
Battersea Mr. Soule for seven years had been Pastor of the Baptist
Church, Lewes, Sussex. He was born Dec. 25, 1806, died unexpectedly
Nov. 8, 1873, having preached with his usual energy on the previous
Sunday, when in the morning he took for his text Rev. xxii. 14, and
afterwards administered the Lord's Supper. The funeral service was
conducted Nov. 15th, by the Rev. D. Jones, B.A., of Brixton, assisted
by the Rev. Edward Steane, D.D., the Rev. Robert Ashton and other
ministers. At the grave, in the presence of about 7,000 persons, the
Rev. Samuel Green delivered an address. On the following day, Sunday,
November 16, Funeral Sermons were preached in Battersea Chapel to
overflowing congregations, in the morning by the Rev. D. Jones, in the
evening by the Rev. Dr. Angus.
His mortal remains lie interred at St. Mary's Cemetery with those
of Amelia his wife, where in token of fond affection to his memory
a beautiful obelisk of grey polished granite has been erected.
The epitaph states "that he consecrated himself in early life to
the service of God; that he received during a long and faithful
ministry signal tokens of Divine favour in the number who through his
instrumentality were brought to a knowledge of the Saviour. His earnest
constant labours to the last for the education and welfare of the young
are of untold benefit, while rich and poor alike have lost in him a
kind and sympathizing friend, whose loving and Christian spirit will
long be remembered in Battersea." A monumental tablet to his memory is
about to be erected in the Chapel.
"Servant of Christ well done,
Rest from thy loved employ,
The battle fought, the victory won,
Enter thy Master's joy."
In a small room under the south gallery is erected a beautiful marble
tablet _in memoriam_ of the Rev. Joseph Hughes, M. A. Also under the
north gallery are erected tablets in affectionate remembrance of Henry
Tritton, Esq., for many years a resident in the Parish of Battersea,
and whose mortal remains lie buried under the Chapel. He died 20th of
April, 1836, aged 48 years. Also Amelia, his wife, third daughter of
Joseph Benwell, Esq., died March 28, 1855, aged 64 years.
April, 1874, Mr. Soule was succeeded by the Rev. Charles Kirtland, who
still continues to fill the pastoral office.
Let strangers walk around
The city where we dwell;
Compass and view the holy ground,
And mark the building well.
The orders of Thy house,
The worship of Thy court,
The cheerful songs, the solemn vows,
And make a fair report.
"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit
and in truth."--_John iv._ 24.
Deacons--G. Lawrence, Cubbington Cottage, Battersea Rise; H. M. Soule,
St. John's Hill, Battersea Rise; W. H. Coe, York Road, Battersea;
G. Mansell, 1, Cologne Road, St. John's Hill; Philip Cadby, 24,
St. Peter's Square, Hammersmith; Thomas Sadler, 88 Spencer Road.
Chapel-keeper--D. Rayner, 31, Verona Street, York Road.
[Illustration]
BAPTIST TEMPORARY CHAPEL, Surrey Lane. This building having stood
beyond the time allowed by Government was condemned by the Board of
Works. The Church which formerly worshipped there have removed to
the Lammas Hall until a permanent building can be raised. A fund is
established which progresses slowly. A. Peto, Esq., The Boltons, South
Kensington, is the Treasurer to the Building Fund. Rev. C. E. Stone is
the Pastor. Deacons, J. Weller and F. T. Ashfield. It is worthy of note
that this was the second Baptist Church formed in Battersea.
"I have set my affections to the house of my God."--_I. Chron. xxix._ 3.
"Christ is the Foundation of the house we raise;
Be its walls salvation, and its gateways praise!
May its threshold lowly to the Lord be dear;
May the hearts be holy that worship here!"
[Illustration]
BATTERSEA PARK TEMPORARY BAPTIST CHAPEL was erected in 1869, at a cost,
including the purchase of freehold land, of £2,000. In 1872 a front
gallery was added which cost £175. In 1876 a piece of ground was bought
at the back of the Chapel for £105, and new class-rooms and vestries
erected at an additional cost of £420. The grand object of the London
Baptist Association next to the promotion of spiritual work, is the
extension of their bounds by the erection of at least one new Chapel
in each year. The Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, the third President (1869), had
the pleasure of seeing a chapel erected in this region where the poor
would be gathered. He was able to purchase and give to the enterprise
this fine freehold site in Battersea, and leaving the front portion
thereof for a future chapel, he expended the grant of the Association
in erecting a school-chapel, seating 630 persons, which was put in
trust without incumbrance. The neighbourhood being too poor to bear
the burden of debt, and no wealthy friends being forthcoming this was
thought to be the wiser course. The Rev. W. J. Mayers commenced his
pastorate in the beginning of the year 1870. Upon his resignation
he was succeeded by the Rev. Alfred Bax, who for two years or more
preached with much acceptance. On the 2nd of April, 1877, the Rev. T.
Lardner became the officiating minister. Deacons of the Church--J. S.
Oldham, William Weller, W. Chaplin.
In 1866, Mr. E. Carter shoemaker by trade, residing at 16, Henley
Street, commenced holding a Sunday School in his own hired house.
One Sunday Afternoon, two young students from the Metropolitan
Tabernacle, called at his residence to see if they could hold
religious services there, but it does not appear that they at that
time succeeded. Afterwards the School was removed to 32, Russell
Street, then to 53, Arthur Street, where Mr. Rees, a young man from
the Metropolitan Tabernacle conducted Morning and Evening Services
regularly every Lord's day. Subsequently he was succeeded by Mr.
William Wiggins of the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon's College who on account of
the place "being too strait" made arrangements to open Norton Villas,
Battersea Park Road, for Sunday School and regular Sunday Religious
Services, and at stated times on Week Evenings. Norton Villa, was
opened as a place of Worship, October 20th, 1867. In 1868, a Baptist
Church was formed by the late Rev. I. M. Soule of Battersea Chapel and
Mr. Wiggins was recognised as the Pastor, the Church consisted of forty
members and a Congregation of about a hundred persons besides a Sunday
School of one hundred and twenty Children; this place however, became
too small to accommodate the persons desirous of attending. It was
proposed therefore, to erect an Iron Chapel on a site near York Road
Station. But those friends who made the proposition, on hearing that
the Baptist Association had an intention to build a permanent Chapel
in Battersea Park Road, abandoned the idea of purchasing and erecting
an Iron Chapel so in 1870, when the present Chapel was completed, the
Baptists who had met at Norton Villa for worship, (Mr. Wiggins, having
resigned his pastorate there) united with the Church at Battersea Park
Chapel, under the Pastoral care of the Rev. Walter J. Mayers.
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the
manner of some is; but so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching."--_Hebrews x._ 25.
"Great the joy when Christians meet,
Christian fellowship, how sweet!
When, their theme of praise the same
They exalt Jehovah's name."--_Burder._
"Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus
Christ."--_I. John i._ 3.
BAPTIST (PROVIDENCE) CHAPEL, Meyrick Road, is a brick building--seats
350. It is intended to have galleries when it will then accommodate
500. The memorial stone was laid by Mr. H. Clark, October 5th, 1875,
on which are engraved the words "The fear of the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom."--_Psalm cxi._ 10. Cost of Chapel including the purchase of
freehold land on which the Chapel is erected £2,400. G. G. Stanham,
Esq., Architect; Messrs. Turtle and Appleton, Builders, Battersea.
Officiating Minister, Mr. Philips. Deacons, H. Clark, S. Stiles, Joseph
Palmer.
"Philip said (to the Eunuch), If thou believest with all thine heart
thou mayest (be baptised); and he answered and said, I believe that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God."--_Acts viii._ 37.
"For we are all partakers of that one bread."--_I. Cor. x._ 17.
"Come in, ye chosen of the Lord,
And share the bounties of His house;
His dying feast, His Sacred word,
Our joys our hopes, and solemn vows.
Come share the blessings of that board,
Which Jesus for His Saints has spread;
Receive the grace His ways afford,
Commune with us and Christ our Head."--_G. Smith._
[Illustration]
THE NEW BAPTIST CHAPEL, Chatham Road Bolingbroke Grove.--A suitable
plot of ground was obtained at a cost of £150; cost of Chapel, about
£850. Services were conducted by Charles and Thomas Spurgeon. The
building will seat 258 persons.
The cause was commenced about fourteen years ago in a very humble way
by Mr. G. Rides, a working man, who, previously to the erection of the
above place of worship, held meetings in his own hired house, Swaby
Street. William Higgs, Jun., Architect; Higgs and Hill, Builders.
WESLEYAN METHODIST MISSION ROOM AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS, Everett Street,
Nine Elms, opened 1871. Mr. John Farmer, Steward and Superintendent.
Now closed.
UNITED METHODIST FREE CHURCH, Church Road, Battersea.--The Memorial
Stone was laid by James Wild, Esq., May 25th, 1858. Another stone was
laid by Mrs. Bowron, Sept. 22, 1864, when the Chapel was enlarged. S.
J. Stedman, Architect.
THE UNITED METHODIST FREE CHURCH, Battersea Park Road.--The School-room
at the back of the Chapel in Landseer Street was built in 1865, at a
cost of £500, and it was used as a preaching Station. In 1871-2 the
present Chapel was built, at a cost of £2,200. Seats about 600. Has
a Lecture-room and Schools underneath the Chapel. The freehold was
purchased in 1876 and cost £400. Rev. James Whitton is now Resident
Minister in connexion with the 7th London Circuit.
"The brotherly covenant."_--Amos i._ 9.
"One in heart, and one in hand,
One for all, and all for one;
Love shines through this Christian band,
Kindled from the heavenly sun."--_Edmeston._
In the District known as New Wandsworth, near the Bolingbroke Grove,
Wandsworth Common, is a large and increasing population which presents
an opening for Christian enterprise.
The Free Methodists of the 7th London Circuit have undertaken this
work. Preaching has been commenced in a room No. 89, Bennerly Road, and
a society of twelve members have been formed.
A suitable freehold site has been secured in the Mallinson Road at a
cost of £400, and it is proposed to erect a Chapel and Schools thereon.
The whole scheme will involve an outlay of £4,000, but at present it is
only intended to build the School, which is estimated will, with the
ground, cost nearly £1,200.
PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHAPEL, New Road, was built in 1874. The Chapel
including the purchase of freehold, cost about £1,030. Seats 200. Mr.
Murphy, Architect; Mr. Stocking, Builder.
Now a new and much more commodious Chapel is erected. Respecting its
origin the following account may not be uninteresting.
About twelve years ago the friends of Hammersmith Station decided to
Mission this neighbourhood. First of all they opened two small parlours
at 32, Russell Street, Battersea Park Road, as a Preaching Station and
afterwards secured premises in Stewart's Lane, which they converted
into a small Chapel, and here, for several years, were numbers of
conversions; but, like all small and out-of-the-way places, it became a
feeder to other churches. It was at last decided to secure a suitable
site and build. First a lease of a piece of land in the New-Road,
and eventually the freehold was secured, and a small school-room was
erected on part of the site, which has since been used for school
and preaching services. The building being altogether inconvenient,
it was decided, after prayerful and mature deliberation, to build a
Chapel which should be more in harmony with the requirements of the
neighbourhood. Mr. A. J. Rouse, the Architect, was consulted, plans
were prepared, and tenders invited. The contract was let to Mr. J.
Holloway, builder, Wandsworth, for £2000, which, with the debt of £690
on the school-room and Architect's fees, will bring it up to £2800.
The building is plain, neat, and substantial, with stone facings. It
will accommodate about 600 persons; there are two aisles, a gallery on
the sides and at one end, with a back gallery for the organ. Adjoining
the chapel is a large class-room capable of holding sixty children.
Externally, the building is one of the most imposing and attractive in
the neighbourhood, and one of the cheapest in London.
On Whit-Monday, 1878, the memorial-stones were laid. The opening
address was delivered by Mr. G. Harris. It was practical, earnest,
and eloquent. Stones were laid by R. Burns, R. Adams, and R. Morton,
Esqs., and Messrs. J. J. Flux, W. Bayford, W. Gibbs, Rev. T. Penrose
for G. Palmer, Esq., M. P., Mr. S. Fortune, Circuit Steward, for the
Sunday-schools, Mesdames W. and H. Baker, and Miss Whiting.
At the end of the Chapel is a Tablet in memory of Alfred James Rouse,
Architect, who met with his death in the collision between the Princess
Alice and the Bywell Castle on the Thames, September 3rd, 1878. Life is
short but Art is long.
"Therefore be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the Son
of Man cometh. _Matt._ 24. 44."
The first Primitive Methodist preachers were, William Cowes and Hugh
Borne, in 1807. When the first Primitive Methodist Church was formed it
consisted of ten members; now it numbers over 180,000 and employs more
than a 1,000 ministers.
"Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the
midst of them."--_Matthew xviii._ 20.
PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHAPEL, Grayshott Road, was erected in 1875. The
stone was laid by J. T. Hawkins, Esq., M. A., for the Right Hon. Earl
Shaftesbury, K. G., November 21, 1874. Rev. J. Toulson, Superintendent,
7th London Circuit. Another Stone was laid by a Shareholder of the
Artizans, Labourers and General Dwelling Company Limited. Rev. W. E.
Crombie, Minister. Mr. A. J. Rouse, Acting Architect; J. Lose, Builder.
The Chapel seats 400, and cost about £2,600. The entrance to the Chapel
is up a flight of steps; the Schools are underneath the Chapel.
"Jehovah, Shammah." _Ezek. xlviii._ 35. "Allelujah!" _Rev. xix._ 1.
In the Wandsworth Road, near Grayshott Road, is an old milestone which
marks the space between that and the Royal Exchange five miles, and
Whitehall four and a half miles.