[Picture: St. Barnabas Church, Addison Road, Kensington]
Three windows on the north side and four on others are also filled with stained and quarried gla.s.s, with designs of a better school.
The organ, a fine instrument by Walker, is at the west end in the gallery, and well decorated.
It is now forty-three years since this church was consecrated, and during the last eighteen years it has been under the same inc.u.mbent, who has been one of the Kensington Clergy for nearly thirty years. It occupies a large district in the west of Kensington, and has itself, in progress of time, become a parent church to several others which have risen within its bounds. St. Philip"s and St. Matthias are districts formed out of it; and the more recent erection of St. John the Baptist"s Church in the Holland-road marks a still further development. It has also a separate appendage to itself in the "Church House" in the Warwick-gardens, which has been built to accommodate the surplus of its regular congregation, sanctioned by the Bishop, and served by its own clergy. Here invalids who cannot conveniently attend the larger congregation, and such as cannot for the present obtain accommodation there, are invited to attend.
In point of fact it is altogether a separate church served by the Vicar of St. Barnabas and his curates. As, however, it is treated simply as an out-building of St. Barnabas-and is used for the transaction of its various parochial business-we must consider it as included with it.
[Picture: St. Barnabas Church House, Warwick Gardens, Kensington]
St. Barnabas" Church has accommodation for about 1,500, and its morning congregation averages from 1,200 to 1,400, looking well filled. The evening congregation, however, is much smaller, as a rule, as is the case with most West London churches. But we may attribute this partly to the existence of an afternoon service, at which there is public catechising, which is very fully attended. The church is daily open, and the Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday. There is no High Church costume, or parade of surpliced choristers, but there is a most efficient choir, who fill the s.p.a.ce in front of the organ in the end gallery. On the occasion of our visit, which was St. Barnabas" day, June 11, the church"s annual Feast of Dedication, the performance consisted in a Gregorian and other much more pleasing chants in D and A, with hymns special to the occasion. The Gregorian strain never pleases; and seems to us adapted mainly to break up and destroy the natural form, music, and sense of the English tongue. There are three curates, who perform their subordinate parts in the service with great propriety and credit. Such only who could accomplish this would be at all in keeping with the character of the chief pastor. Dr. Hessey has a matured, well-cultured Christian mind, in addition to learning, and natural talent and taste for the duties of the pulpit. There is also a gravity and kindliness in his general manner and utterance which leaves one in no doubt as to the secret of his power. The sermon on the occasion of our visit was an anniversary one, and as being confined to a portion of appropriate historical Scripture (Acts xi, 26), did not offer scope for the full exercise of the preacher"s powers. Yet the evidence of their existence was there.
The clergy are supported chiefly by pew-rents, and there are offertories and collections for various charities, missions, and other objects. For the poor, for schools, missions, choir, incidental church expenses, the Bishop of London"s Fund, in aid of hospitals and other charities, there was raised altogether in 1870 704_l._ 11s. 10d. Out of this it is found impossible to provide for the heavier church expenses. A church-rate is also levied, to which it does not appear what response is made. We have reason, however, to believe that no large sum is thus collected, or the churchwardens would have been able to spend more on the decoration of the church. There is clearly room for considerable improvement here, and we hope there will be no great difficulty in providing means to carry out the church repairs which are so much needed. The whitewasher, painter, and grainer might in the interior be employed with good effect.
ST. JOHN"S CHURCH, NOTTING HILL.
A BUILDING set on a hill cannot be hid, and it is literally true of St.
John"s Church; it is just on the crest, of Notting-hill, and may be seen from a great distance in the perspective of the long road, to the west of which it stands. Its effect is at first sight very good; the spire, however, rising at the intersection of the nave and transepts, appears too stunted, as if it had been drawn down several feet into the tower, a fault to be deplored in many instances. Built of stone and covered with slate, the early English detail, generally very good, the character of the style very truthfully retained, as shown by the chancel windows, the well-executed caps and bosses, and in the eastern triplet, make up a very excellent attractive whole. The plan of the church is cruciform, and is divided into a nave and aisles, north and south transepts, chancel and aisles, with a vestry at the N.E. angle. There are several large galleries, one at the west end, one in each of the transept and chancel aisles, which add very considerably to the accommodation for sittings.
The organ is placed in the west gallery, and rather takes from a good perspective, as seen looking westward, the stone columns and plaster-moulded arcade giving a very poor effect; and the church generally supports some well-designed work in the clerestory, where oddly enough we find stone used again, though we cannot help feeling glad to see it, instead of the plaster work before referred to. The roof is high-pitched and open, of good design, but, owing to so little of the light of heaven illuminating the interior, we are unable to say much about it. The lancet windows are not enough to admit the cheering rays, and this is certainly a drawback; it gives to the church a gloomy appearance which it ought not really to have. Most of the windows are filled with stained gla.s.s, but of no good type, except the eastern subject, representing the Lord"s Supper. The font, close to the west door, is of simple design, and has the emblems of the Evangelists sculptured in relief on the bowl. The pulpit, too much like a large winegla.s.s, is lofty, and blocks out the view, looking east. The pewing is very mean, and on a level with the pewing of the pa.s.sages, which is not improving. Some simple wooden screens shut out the chancel from the aisles, and the table is plain and railed off. The diaper work painted on the chancel wall is well done and effective.
Early in 1845 the Church of St. John was consecrated for divine service in the northern division of Kensington. Misgivings were expressed at the time that the site, one of the most attractive in London, had been chosen too far out in the fields; but the population of the district has since risen from less than 3,000 to more than 60,000, and has been part.i.tioned among six new parish churches, all built from voluntary contributions, and maintained without endowments. The church, parsonage, and schools of St. John"s represent an expenditure of nearly 20,000_l._, almost entirely raised within the parish; and the subscriptions and collections for 1870 amounted to 996_l._ collected in the church, besides 850_l._ pew-rents, and 2,390_l._ collected in other ways for local and missionary purposes.
Between 500 and 600 children are in attendance at the schools, and nearly 400 of them belong to the Parochial Provident Society, which consists in the aggregate of 731 members. The congregation appear much in need of the additional comfort and accommodation which would be derived from removing the organ out of the west gallery, and letting in the light from the handsome window behind it. The design of the architect might then be carried out, and the organ and pulpit be placed as originally intended, throwing back the fronts of the north and south transept galleries. This church has suffered a good deal at different times from well-meant efforts to provide additional accommodation for the vast population which has grown up round it; but nothing has been done which might not be easily set right at a small expenditure. The present inc.u.mbent has been seventeen years in residence, and was appointed by the late Bishop Blomfield, of London, the see to which the patronage belongs. The east window is an adaptation in coloured gla.s.s of the "Last Supper" of Leonardo da Vinci, and was offered by the parishioners as a memorial of their sorrow for the early loss of Eleanor Isabella, only child of Sir John Franklin, and wife of the inc.u.mbent, who was cut off in the midst of a career of singular activity and Christian usefulness about ten years ago. A mural monument close by records the decease of the previous inc.u.mbent, the Rev. E. Denniss, who fell a victim to cholera in 1854.
This likewise was placed there by the parishioners as a monument of their affectionate regret; and it is very observable that our new churches derive increased solemnity and repose from the gradual increase of such mementoes as these.
Out of 1,400 sittings, this church has about 400 free; all the others let at rates varying from 4s. to 15s. per quarter. The congregation is composed mainly of the well-to-do people of that part, and the collections which are made for various objects through the year average from 50_l._ to 60_l._ a Sunday, whether it be for home or foreign objects. The organist, Mr. Cooper, is surrounded in the orchestra by a selection of the male Sunday scholars-who are evidently well-trained, and make up an effective choir-without surplices. The service is completely on the Evangelical model, animated and thoroughly devotional, and the congregation join in it earnestly. The prayers and lessons were well read by a subst.i.tute for one of the curates, who are two, the Rev.
Messrs. Leicester and Newton. The sermon was preached by the inc.u.mbent, the Rev. J. P. Gell, from Psalm iii. 4, "He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered." The rev. gentleman"s preaching is careful, practical, and devout; and appears to come directly home to his hearers, over whom, through a long series of years he has maintained a very manifest influence for good. The ordinary services are on Sundays at 11 A.M., and 7 P.M., and lecture on Wednesday evening. At 12.30 there is full Communion Service every first Sunday in the month, after the morning service; and an early celebration at 9 A.M. on every third Sunday in the month.
ST. GEORGE"S, CAMPDEN HILL, KENSINGTON.
ST. GEORGE"S, Campden-hill, the spire of which, in the distance, is so closely allied to the Kensington Water-tower and that other familiar object of West London distance, Tower Cressy, that we suppose there are few who are unacquainted with the rather odd-looking trio. Either of them taken alone would form a good distance object, but as it sometimes happens they all three lump together in the landscape, the effect is not only odd, but certainly striking, the water-tower always looking like the big brother of the other two. St. George"s, however, must now be taken alone, and really it deserves to be especially noticed. The church stands N. and S., the south elevation being worthy of remark for much excellent and effective detail. The tower and spire, of fair proportion at the S.E. angle of the building, form an important feature of this view. The spire is broached and covered with slate in bands, and relieved with wooden spire lights with iron finials, giving a picturesque appearance. The tower is without b.u.t.tresses, and, like all other portions of this south elevation, is faced with stone in random courses, with Bath stone quoins and dressings, and clean-cut bands of stone of warmer colour. It is lighted by deeply-recessed lancet windows, with columns and foliated caps, and bands on all sides. The staircase within is clearly marked by raking lines of windows, simple and effective. The centre of the gable of this elevation is occupied by a large and boldly-treated window, with geometric rose and four lancet lights, deeply recessed with label mould, encircling three well-carved heads in relief; this window is flanked by side two-light windows, partly concealed by the tile roof of the large cloistered porch. Being the princ.i.p.al entrance to the church, this roof is supported by dwarf and ma.s.sive columns, with carved caps and cusped arcade. The whole forms a picturesque feature in perspective. The side and north elevations are very plainly treated in brickwork, with coloured bands or strings continued round the b.u.t.tresses.
The windows are executed in stone, plain-cut, unsplayed tracery; the reason for this change in design is evident-these elevations will shortly be hidden by the houses that are hourly springing up round the church.
The usual stone finials and crosses are replaced by iron of like character.
The plan of the church is slightly cruciform, and consists of a nave and aisles, east and west transept, a doubly-recessed apsidal chancel, and aisles. Large galleries run round nearly three sides of the body of the church, and at the south end there is a double tier for school-children.
Galleries, as we have often observed before, do not improve the good effect of a building; however, these galleries have a novel treatment: the balcony-if such an expression may be used-is suggestive of a conventional ship"s side with the ports complete. We by no means wish to convey a false impression by these remarks, for the lines of these galleries are very graceful, and yet sufficiently angular to be quite in keeping with the style of the church. The corbelled princ.i.p.als of the galleries, too, are effectively cut; they take a bearing on the iron columns of the arcades, from which, in every other respect, they run clear. We never remember to have seen iron better treated in church-arcade columns. The detail is sharp and clean, and the columns are not so slender as to appear unequal to their task of supporting the brick arches and clerestory, and the light nave and other roofs with saw-tooth cut and intersecting ribs. Generally the interior effect is exceeding good, especially the arcade of the east transept. There is evidence of great originality of thought on the part of the architect, which we cannot fail to notice and admire, and the colouring is harmonious and quiet in the corbels, bands, and courses, which are of stone, nearly all ornamented with flowing Gothic scrolls, painted black and incised. The font is an excellent example of early work jewelled with coloured bosses round the circular bowl, with the inscription "One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism." It stands near to the southern doors.
The oak pulpit is elevated to suit the galleries, stilted on stone cl.u.s.tered columns, with foliated caps, and b.u.t.ts upon the chancel west pier. The oak-eagle lectern is also at the entrance of the chancel, and is very well executed. The pewing, perhaps the least attractive portion of the fittings, is, however, well cut, but too dark to our mind. The organ occupies the west chancel aisle, and is placed over the vestries and quite undecorated. The chancel windows in the apse are well filled with stained gla.s.s, by Messrs. Lavers and Barraud. In the rose is represented the Crucifixion; the four lancets, the Evangelists and their emblems. The pa.s.sages are paved with plain tiling. Mr. Ba.s.sett Keeling, of Gray"s-inn, was the architect, and we must congratulate him upon having produced an exceedingly beautiful and original type of church.
The first stone was laid by the Ven. Archdeacon Sinclair, in Feb., 1864, and by Trinity Sunday in the following year the church was opened for Divine Service.
This church is situated partly in the Ward of St. Mary Abbotts and partly in that of St. John"s, Notting-hill, having in both departments a little over 8,000 inhabitants. It provides 1,400 sittings in all, 413 of which are free. But these in cases of emergency can be added to by about 150, provided by a system of _telescopic_ seats, which can be drawn upon occasions from under the fixed pews, across the main aisles, filling up the entire area of the church. Six or seven years ago the site of St.
George"s was a cabbage-garden; but a private Christian gentleman conceived the happy idea of converting it to its present purpose, built this beautiful edifice at his own cost, and presented it to the district.
The congregation has grown up almost as rapidly as the building itself.
All the sittings not free are let at from 1_l._ 1s. to 2_l._ 2s. per annum, and the congregation is usually full and of a superior cla.s.s at the morning and evening services. The Duke of Argyll and the Earl of Airlie and families hold sittings, and usually attend here, with other families and persons of note and character located in and about this aristocratic neighbourhood. On Sunday morning, the 25th of June, 1871 the church was crowded, a rumour having gone abroad that the Princess Louise, the daughter-in-law of the Duke of Argyll, was expected to be present. If this were the cause, however, there must have been considerable disappointment, as the Princess was certainly not there.
The Vicar, the Rev. George Bennett, who is usually the morning preacher, preached a useful and discriminating sermon on John xvii. 16, pointing out in what sense Christ was not of the world, and in what sense his true people are not of the world. Some seasonable remarks were made about the temptation under which Christians now lie to succ.u.mb to what is called "public opinion," until there is danger of their placing the voice of "society" above the voice of conscience and the word of G.o.d. Yet this was the only standard of right and wrong; whilst the standard set up by the world was an _unreal_ one, and not sincerely believed even by those who, from the force of fashion, practised it. The prayers were read by the Rev. Mr. Becker, and the Litany by the Rev. Mr. Frampton, the Curates. In this instance there is also a lay reader, Mr. Gordon Cleather, who, in a surplice, read the lessons well and distinctly. The Rev. Dr. Davis is the evening preacher, who is known as a clergyman of distinguished talent. The church has no endowment, and the clergy are maintained and the expenses met out of the pew-rents and offertories.
There are several religious and benevolent inst.i.tutions, also, supported by the congregation or receiving aid from it. In St. George"s Schools there are boys about 100 and girls the same number, with infants about 130. These received voluntary aid to the amount of 160_l._ in 1870.
There is a District Visiting Society account, for which, including a _Maternity_, Provident, and Work Society, there was received from various sources and disbursed the sum of 360_l._ in the year. The offertories, apart from subscriptions-and from which all objects are aided in proportion-brought 181_l._ 0s. 6d.; and there are lists of subscribers to all the funds-as, for instance, to the Church Service Fund, the offertories for which amounted only to 39_l._ 16s. 9d., but which was raised by two collections in the year and subscriptions to 108_l._ 11s.
4d. The worship is plain Church of England, barring the intoning of portions of the prayers. The choir is not surpliced, and the singing, for the most part, lively, accompanied by a good organ, well played by Herr Sowerby, Professor. The hymns are "Ancient and Modern," published at the Sacred Music Warehouse, Novello and Co., Dean-street. The order of services are-Sunday: morning at 11, afternoon 3.30, evening at 7; Wednesdays, Fridays, and holidays. Holy Communion on the first and third Sunday in the month at 9 A.M., and on the second Sunday after the morning service.
ST. PETER"S, NOTTING HILL.
ST. PETER"S, Notting-hill, in the Kensington-park-road, is an Italian edifice, looking of some importance as regards its west elevation, the only portion of the church seen from the road. On close inspection it is disappointing to find stucco in place of stone facing the work. The elevation consists of a large enclosed portico with engaged columns, supporting an entablature and pediment, which is surmounted by a square tower with engaged columns and tower lights, and terminating with a sort of pepper box top. Although not so prominently or so beautifully placed as St. John"s, it has a pleasing appearance from the road; the effect, however, is somewhat diminished by a dwarfed cupola. A more lofty, tapering campanile would have added much to its importance. The facade is not seen to advantage, from its close proximity to the road. A large vestibule gives access to the main body of the church and the gallery staircases. The plan of the church consists of a nave and aisles, a portion of the east end being railed off to form a chancel. Three large galleries partly enclose the church, and entirely cover the s.p.a.ce of the aisles. Large Corinthian columns and entablature support the roof; just above the cornice are semicircular clerestory lights, glazed in a fan-like manner. The roof is enclosed by a flat ceiling in panels, ornamented with centre flowers, and the aisles are ceiled at a lower level below the clerestory.
The church has had everything done for it that can be in the way of decoration, which has been very beautifully executed, and in perfect keeping with the style of the building. The Greek ornament and colouring are at once harmonious and agreeable, and should prove a good lesson to all, showing what may be done to beautify even a heavy building, and how very efficient church decorators have hitherto been in the adornment of our churches. One can only hope that some whitewash advocates may be induced from these remarks to visit St. Peter"s. We are quite sure they will change their minds-and some churchwardens may well blush for their own doings, and set about an improved state of things in their own churches. The east end is more ornately decorated than other portions; the caps and bases of the columns are guilded, the panels are fitted with diaper and lily ornaments. Some rather happy stained gla.s.s, ill.u.s.trating incidents in the life of St. Peter, a.s.sists in producing an exceedingly well-conceived whole. Two of the windows are of superior workmanship, by Clayton and Bell, but the centre large one is slightly pretentions, somewhat faulty in drawing, and not equal to the general features of the decorations, though the appearance of the chancel on entering the church is singularly fine. The Gothic furniture and stalls of the chancel we dislike, being out of place. The pulpit is cleverly contrived to be as light and un.o.bstructive as possible, yet necessarily high, on account of the galleries, and, moreover, so gossamer-like with regard to its enclosing railing, that any near-sighted strangers may be forgiven for a feeling of nervousness for the safety of the preacher.
The vase font is near the western entrance. The organ is in the west gallery. Some stained gla.s.s of good design fills some of the aisle-windows. The pa.s.sages are paved, with ornamental tiles, the pewing has been cut down, and would be greatly improved raised four or five inches above the level of the pa.s.sage-paving. The church is thoroughly and expensively heated with warm air, and lighted at night by a sun-burner from the roof, containing 120 jets. Every attention appears to have been paid to ensure the comfort of the congregation. The most marked feature of St. Peter"s Church is its interior, which, as a whole, is very beautiful. The style is worked out in Pompeian red, and, although florid in development, is by no means obtrusive; and from the general harmonies of colour and subdued blendings, it is thought to conduce to a feeling of devotional repose. The galleries, however, const.i.tute a great drawback to this otherwise very pleasing interior.
They are too flat in construction, and too ponderous for the limited s.p.a.ce between the roof and the floor of the side aisles.
This church is one of six now gathered round the original church of St.
John"s, Notting-hill, and is allocated to one of the six new parishes into which the old parish has been subdivided. It was built in the year 1856, with funds furnished partly by the inc.u.mbent and partly by donations from the immediate neighbourhood. It has sittings for 1,400 persons, out of which 400 are free. There are, in connexion with it, large and exceedingly well appointed schools, numbering 150 boys, 150 girls and 220 infants. The efficiency of these schools has been authoritatively commended.
The present vicar, the Rev. J. Robbins, D.D., of Christ Church, Oxford, was appointed in the year 1862. We had not the opportunity of hearing the rev. gentleman preach, but he read the first lesson, and we consider him quite a model reader. From a firm, distinct, and flexible utterance, and as from a ready appreciation of its sense, Scripture is made to speak its meaning, and to convey real effect in the reading. The general order of service he has adopted is semi-choral. The prayers are monotoned, the chants and responses are Gregorian. The choir is mostly composed of boys, with surplices, educated in the schools attached to the church, and who sing the music about as well as such music can be done. The Creed is, also, in reality, sung and accompanied with the organ. We must confess to a disappointment in the effect produced by the organ, the tones of which did not seem to harmonise with the flow of voices; but we hear this is about to be remedied. To many there would doubtless seem in this service an excess of singing, and that, monotonous in a large degree. But it is the High Church order of things; and St. Peter"s is confessedly High Church. There are various societies attached for the visitation of the poor and the distribution of several charities.
The sermon on Sunday morning, July 2, 1871, was preached by the Rev. C.
R. Robinson, M.A., Canon of Rochester, for the Gravesend (or St.
Andrew"s) Waterside Mission. Notwithstanding the inclement weather, the church was fully attended by a congregation in the midst of which it was hard to discern a single poor person. The preacher discoursed pleasantly on 1 Peter v. 10, 11-"But the G.o.d of all grace," &c. His account of the origin of St. Andrew"s Mission, of which he himself was the founder about ten years ago, and of his personal interviews with seamen in going to sea and returning, distribution of books, &c., riveted the attention of the audience, and appeared to excite intense feeling in favour of the n.o.ble objects of the society. The usual preliminary part of the Communion Service, including the Commandments, the Nicene Creed, Epistle and Gospel, was not read; but the sermon followed the Litany and hymn. The hymn-book used is "Hymns Ancient and Modern" (Novello, Ewer, and Co., Berners-street). Usual services-Sundays: 8 A.M., Holy Communion; 11, Morning Prayer, Litany, and sermon; 12.30 P.M., Communion (choral); 3.30 P.M., Evening Prayer and catechising the children; 7 P.M., Evening Prayer and sermon. Week-days: 8 A.M., morning prayer; 5.30 P.M., Evening Prayer (choral); Wednesday and Friday, Litany, 12.30 P.M.; Thursday, Communion at 7 A.M., and also on saints" days and holidays. The church is open all day for prayer and meditation, and a public notice at the doors requests "all persons to observe silence."
ST. PAUL"S KENSINGTON.
ST. PAUL"S, Campden-hill, is a large iron structure, standing at one corner of Vicarage-garden. As an iron building there is very little to say about it; it is not beautiful-iron buildings never are-but the situation is so very charming, that, plain as the features are of the church, the pleasant nook in which it is placed seems quite to take from its ugliness and lend some of its cheerful pastoral happiness to its iron tenant. One thing strikes us as worthy of notice-the very large open porch at the western entrance offers ample shelter and accommodation to a large dispersing congregation in wet weather, and it has the advantage of offering protection from heat as well as wet, and keeps the west end of the building cool; it is like an open vestibule or lobby.
St. Paul"s was erected as a chapel of ease to the parish church, St. Mary Abbots, Kensington, in the year 1854, so that it was one of the earliest of this temporary method of providing for public worship; and it may be added that, from the present firm and substantial appearance of the structure, it is evident this comparatively inexpensive way of dealing with the question-where larger funds are not at command-may be made to do good service through at least a generation. It affords accommodation for 1,200 people, and but few of the sittings are free, not, we believe, amounting to more than fifty. The church is served by the curates of Archdeacon Sinclair, Vicar of Kensington, and at present, during the re-erection of the new parish church, has double service performed in it every Sunday. The early service at a quarter to ten, and afternoon at half-past three, at which the Archdeacon"s curates officiate, are for the congregation of the Old Church, who, _pro tem._, are without accommodation, and the services at half-past eleven and seven are given to the congregation of St. Paul"s, when the Archdeacon himself usually preaches. This is of a high-cla.s.s character, and remarkable for a very large preponderance of gaily-dressed ladies, quite in keeping with our established ideas of a court suburb. The service is Evangelical, the clerical robes of the simplest character, and the chancel without conspicuous ornament of any kind, but that which is the greatest adorning of a church, a reverent and rational performance of Divine worship, without formalism or Ritualistic affectation of voice and manner. We were favoured to hear the venerable Bishop of Bangor, who delivered an impressive sermon, full of Evangelical sentiment, from 1st Epistle of John, c. iii., v. 2: "Beloved now are we the sons of G.o.d; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be," &c. A young clergyman-a stranger to the congregation-read the prayers, Psalms, lessons, and Litany.
The congregation is of course interested in the schools and charities belonging to the parent church, and contribute in a liberal degree to their efficiency and support. These will be fully described in their proper place, when we treat of the beautiful new parish church now in course of erection.
ST. JAMES"S, NOTTING HILL.
ST. JAMES"S, Notting-hill, is situated in the Addison-Road North, and is seen to some advantage at the entrance to the road. From its central position, its square tower and sharp pinnacles look grey and old, an appearance which the church loses upon closer inspection. It is built of grey brick, with moulded angle bricks and slight stone dressings, and the low-pitched roofs are covered with slate. The plan of the church consists of a nave and aisles, with an apsidal chancel, the tower forming an excrescent on the south side, about the middle of the nave. This tower acts as a porch on the lower story, and has a ringing floor on the gallery level; these galleries surround the church on three sides, extending to the arcades. In style the church is a revival of the early English, and, like all churches of the period, is full of mistakes, though as a specimen of that age it is perhaps a very fair example. But the efforts of revivalists must not be forgotten; much of our perfection, if it can _yet be called so_, is due to their endeavours. The iron columns of the nave are worthy of remark, showing how very well iron could be treated even in those days. The roofs are open, and though rather heavy possess some fair effect. The windows are chiefly without tracery, and the stained gla.s.s is poor. The pewing is very simple; the pulpit high. The prayer-desk and oak-eagle lectern speak of a desire for better things. The font is poor and too perpendicular. The organ is in the western gallery. The decoration of the nave is not well done; it is evidently the work of an unskilful hand. There is no need for Greek ornament in a Gothic building; surely there is scope enough for the ornamentalist in Gothic work without going to the Greeks for examples.
St. James"s, Notting-hill, is one of the older modern suburban churches, having been built more than a quarter of a century ago, which is a great deal to say as compared with a number of the churches we are now reviewing. It accommodates 1,100 persons, and 500 of the sittings are free, which is in larger proportion than general. It has national schools attached to it, where 135 boys, 100 girls, and 150 infants are instructed according to the principles of the Church of England. These schools are kept up at a cost of about 500_l._ per annum, about 170_l._ of which is obtained by Government grant, about 140_l._ from the children"s fees, and the remainder from subscriptions and offertories.
There are Mothers" Meetings and a District visiting Society, with which is connected a mission woman and a mission-house in Crescent-street, where extra services are held. Also a Maternity Charity, and the "St.
James"s Norland and Potteries Benevolent Society," and an "Auxiliary Church Missionary Society." Help is also given to the Additional Curates Society and the Bishop of London"s Fund. All these charities and works were well inaugurated in the time of the former Vicar, the Rev. T. P.
Holdich, and have been well sustained since his removal-three years ago-by the Rev. George T. Palmer, M.A., his successor, and the present Vicar. An important alteration, however, has been made in the mode of providing the necessary funds. Formerly it was done by special annual charity sermons; but for this method Mr. Palmer has subst.i.tuted, we are informed with some advantage to the interests concerned, a weekly offertory, or collection taken at every Sunday morning service, which is apportioned among all the charities and calls, according to their relative claims. This covers everything, and beyond it there is nothing but a church-rate, voluntarily given, amounting to about 25_l._ per annum. From these sources and the pew-rents the clergy are maintained, the church expenses met, and the charities supported. The Curate, up to Michaelmas-day last, was the Rev. P. E. Monkhouse, M.A., which appointment he resigned on accepting the head-mastership of the Notting-hill Proprietary School, in order to devote the whole of his time to the education of the boys entrusted to his charge. Mr. Monkhouse, however, still gives his services to Mr. Palmer, and preaches frequently.
His successor is the Rev. I. Cammack. On the occasion of our visit the latter read, or rather monotoned the prayers with a clear voice, and Mr.
Monkhouse read the two lessons with good taste and effect. Mr. Palmer himself read in the Communion Service and preached the sermon. In giving notice of the Communion for the following Sunday morning, the rev.