[Picture: C. Silvester Horne. By kind permission of Mr. H. S.
Mendelssohn]
THE retirement of a pastor so universally beloved as Mr. Symes left the
Church in a position of some perplexity, from which it was to be rescued
less by its own wisdom than by the manifest leading of Providence. For
more than sixty years the congregation had welcomed to its pastorate
ministers already enjoying reputations acquired in other Churches; and in
the eyes of many this practice had acquired the authority of a
traditionary rule. And it seems almost certain that, if any of the
established ministers whom the Church would have been glad to call would
have accepted what was recognised as an onerous charge, the traditions of
1825–80 would have been honoured by continued observance. But it was
otherwise ordained. While as yet no one seems to have remembered how Dr.
Leifchild came to Hornton Street fresh from his tutor, Mr. Charles
Silvester Horne, a student only half through his theological course at
Mansfield College, Oxford, came to Kensington as an ordinary pulpit
supply, and preached with so much acceptance that request was made,—but
without any ulterior view,—that he might be sent again. He had preached
only a very few times, however, when it became evident that he was not
only making a strong impression on the existing congregation, but
attracting new hearers. It was noticed that, while the freshness and
simplicity of his preaching, aided by a genial personality, drew simple
natures, and especially the young, around him, the confidence of the
elders was gained by the unexpected depth and maturity of his sermons;
and then it was that the suppressed thought of many at length found
simultaneous utterance, and the question was asked whether this was not
the kind of minister most suited to the wants of the Kensington
congregation.
Inquiries were made, and then it was ascertained that Mr. Horne had still
eighteen months of his course at Mansfield to complete, and that of these
Dr. Fairbairn would not abate even a week. By this time, however, the
Church had made up its mind, and unanimously offered to pledge itself to
call Mr. Horne in due form at the end of a year and a half, if he, in his
turn, would engage to come to Kensington at that date, and also visit the
congregation in the meantime as often as he could. This arrangement was
made, together with a further and supplementary one with the Rev. Edward
White, who had just left Kentish Town, and who kindly undertook the
pastoral oversight of the Church till the autumn of 1889. In this way,
as was pleasantly observed at the time, Kensington at once secured the
services of “the youngest old man and the oldest young man in the
Congregational body.” Mr. White more than fulfilled the expectations of
the congregation, and in the brief period of his service established
himself permanently in the affections of the congregation, while he
prepared the way for the coming of his young successor.
Mr. Horne was ordained at Kensington in October 1889, the venerable Dr.
Stoughton, Dr. Fairbairn, and Dr. Dale, with the Revs. E. White, R. F.
Horton, and W. Roberts, taking part in the services. This is not the
time to speak at large of a pastorate so recently begun, but it is not
too soon to say that the hopes on which the Kensington Church acted five
years ago have been justified by experience. Congregations were never
larger; the young are being gathered and organised in guilds as well for
instruction and work as for social purposes; the young members of the
Church meet regularly for spiritual edification. The London Missionary
Society and other agencies external to the congregation are supported
with the old constancy and liberality, and the Church itself is as united
as ever in purpose and heart.