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Congregational Places of Worship—The
following information has been kindly furnished by the respective ministers, the
"terms of membership" being given in their
own words:
BRITANNIA-ROW CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, Essex-road, Islington.—Terms of
membership: "Profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and an avowed determination
to strive after holiness of life in humble dependence on the gracious help of the Holy
Spirit." All seats free.
BRUCE-ROAD CHAPEL, Bromley-by-Bow, E.— Terms of membership: "Confession of
faith in the evangelical doctrines of Christianity." All seats free.
CHELSEA CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, Markham-square, Chelsea— Terms of
membership: "All are eligible who give credible evidence of conversion to God." Pew
subscriptions are devoted to the support of the minister. The usual branches: Evangelistic
Services in a Hall near, Sunday-schools, Home Mission Work, Visitation Society, Dorcas
Society, Clothing Society, Band of Hope, &c.
CITY TEMPLE (THE), Holborn Viaduct— Terms of membership: "Profession of
Christian faith. No formal creed, but evangelical." Seat rents from 7s. 6d. a quarter
downward. Seats upwards of 2,000. Dr. Parker preaches not only on Sundays at 11 a.m.
and 7 p.m., but at 12 midday every Thursday.
ECCLESTON-SQUARE, Belgrave-road, S.W. — Terms of membership: "The only
qualification for Church membership is true piety. Persons desirous of becoming mem-
bers must have an interview with the minister." Seat rents vary in amount from as. 6d. to
7s. per quarter. Application can be made after any of the services. Accommodation for
over 1,200. Erected in the year 1848. Services on Sunday at 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m., and
Wednesday at 7.30 p.m.
FETTER-LANE CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL, Fetter-lane, E.C. Terms of
membership: "Faith in the atoning work of Christ, God's Son." Seat rents purely
voluntary. Preaching services: Sunday at 11 am. and 6.30 p.m.; Wednesday, 8 p.m.
Prayer-meeting Monday, at 7 p.m.; Saturday at 8 p.m.
KENTISH-TOWH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, Kelly - Street, Kentish Town.—
Terms of membership:' A credible profession of Christian discipleship." Seat rents,
charges not stated, applied to minister's salary.
KINGSLAND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH High-street, Kingsland, N. Terms of
membership: "Acceptance of the great truths of the Gospel, ordinarily denominated
orthodox, and an avowal of a desire to live as becometh the Gospel of Christ." Seat rents
from 7s. 6d. to 1s. a quarter per sitting for one person. Has a large Sabbath-school, a
Ragged-school, a middle-class Day-school, and missionary and benevolent institutions
embracing home and foreign objects.
LANCASTER-ROAD CHAPEL, Notting-hill, London, W.— Terms of membership:
"Profession of faith in Christ, and a life becoming the gospel." Supported by free-will
offerings.
LATIMER CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL, Bridge-street, Mile End road, E.— Terms
of membership: "Profession of faith in Christ Seat rents from 5s. per quarts Supported by
voluntary contribution of members, and also by considerable ancient endowments.
MABERLY CHAPEL, Balls-pond-road Islington.— Terms of membership:" Evangelical
faith, that is to say, believe in Christ Redeemer and Exemplar, without respect to human
creeds. Seat rents voluntary. Service Sunday, 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m Thursday at 7.30. p.m
MACCLESFIELD-ST. MISSION CHAPEL, Newington Hall villas, Stoke Newington.—
Terms of membership: "According to the order of congregational Churches." Seats free.
Sunday service at 6.30 p.m.; Thursday, prayer meeting at 8 p.m.
NEW COLLEGE CHAPEL, Avenue-road, St. John's Wood, N.W. Terms of
membership:: "Faith -in the Lord Jesus Christ." Seat Rents (no information).
NEW TABERNACLE, Old-street, E.C. — Terms of membership: "A simple confession
of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the conduct of the member corresponding with his
profession." Seat rents 4s.6d., 3s.6d 2s 6d 2s and 1s, There is a Sunday-school and
various other religious institutions connected with the Church. Chapel seats 1,000. The
property is freehold.
OFFORD-ROAD CHAPEL, Offord-road, Barnsbury, N.—Seat rents from 6s. to 3s per
quarter. In connexion Sunday -schools and Mission-hall.
PARK CHAPEL, Arlington-Road, Camden Town— Terms of membership: "Admission
by the Church on personal profession of faith." Seat rents, with slight deductions for
taxes, &c., form the minister's salary (charges per sitting not stated). Number of sittings
1,500 number of communicants 6oo. Number in Sunday schools 850; number in Day
schools 700.
QUEEN-STREET INDEPENDENT, Ratcliff, E..— Terms of membership: "By vote of
the Church and transference." All seats free, weekly offerings. Founded in 1662.
ROBERT-STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL, Robert-street, Grosvenor-square,
W.— Terms of membership: "Acceptance of and belief in evangelical truth, as contained
in Holy Scripture." Seat rents from 10s. to £1 1s. per annum; also supported by voluntary
offerings. The church was founded in 1814; it was re-seated and generally restored in
1878.
ST. JOHN'S WOOD CHURCH, St John's Wood-ter. N.W.— Terms of membership:
"Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as a personal Saviour, Teacher High Priest, and Lord; and
a life in character and conduct consistent with the confession of such a faith." Each seat-
holder fixes his own subscription; and support is obtained through weekly offerings, pew
subscriptions, and, occasional collections. The above church has existed about forty
years, and was the first (Nonconformist) formed in the neighbourhood.
ST. LEONARD'S-STREET CHAPEL, St. Leonard's-street, Upper Tachbrook-street,
Pimlico, S.W.— Terms of membership: "Confession of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ."
All seats are free and unappropriated, expenses being met by voluntary offerings. This
Christian society, about forty years ago, first met, and have ever since continued to do so.
Present chapel built twenty-five years. Seats about 350 persons. A lay pastorate unpaid,
elected annually. Sabbath-school and other agencies at work for the good of the
neighbourhood.
ST. PAUL'S CHAPEL, Hawley-road, Kentish Town— Terms of membership: "Belief in
Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and the Saviour of the world1 and a life in accordance
with His teaching." All seats free.
SION CHAPEL, Whitechapel road, E.—Seat rents, no fixed charge; amount voluntary.
Liturgical service on Sunday mornings.
STEPNEY MEETING- HOUSE, Spring-garden-place, Stepney- The Church meeting in
the above was formed in 1644, under the presidency of Henry Burton, of "pillory" fame.
Its first minister was William Greenhill, to whom Parliament entrusted the spiritual care
of the orphans of Charles I.
SYDNEY-STREET CHAPEL, Sydney-street, Green-street, Bethnal green, E.—Seat rents
not stated
TOLMERS-SQUARE CHAPEL, Hampstead-road, N.W. — Terms of membership: "As
usual with the denomination with which the Church is associated." No rent charged for
seats, but allotted on application, and each holder left contribute to the pastor's support
according to ability. The church holds about 1,200; has 11 deacons, upwards of 60
Sunday-school teachers and 653 scholars on the books; upwards of 400 members with
Band of Hope; Christian instruction society; Dorcas, Jews, sick, visiting, and temperance
societies; mothers' meeting; mutual improvement society ; lectures, entertainments, and
penny bank branch of City Missionary; Lo don Missionary.
TRINITY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, Hanbury-street, Mile End New Town.—
Terms of membership:: "Persons are admitted by the members of the Church into their
fellowship upon profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as the only Saviour of
sinners; and the living, so far as is known to the members, lives consistent with the
requirements of the Sacred Scriptures."
UNION CHAPEL, Compton-terrace, Upper-street, Islington.— Terms of membership:
"The applicant for membership is received by the existing members of the Church on any
satisfactory evidence of Christian character and life; no other conditions of membership
are imposed; but it is an honourable understanding that whoever becomes a member of
the Church accepts its Constitution and order." Seat rents from is. 6d. to 8s. per quarter;
but all unoccupied seats are free, a few minutes after the commencement of the service.
The present building, opened December 5, 1877, is erected on the site of the chapel
which was opened in 1806. It is supported by voluntary contributions, there being no
endowment The congregation, numbering usually about 1,500, support two mission
stations—one in Shoreditch, the other in Morton-road, Islington. In the Sunday and
Ragged schools connected with the Church are about 2,500 children.
UNION CHAPEL Parish street, Horselydown, S.E. — Terms of membership: "The
usual faith and order of Congregational Churches." Seat rents (amount not stated)
constitute the pastors stipend. Will accommodate 800; is freehold and clear of debt; has a
good Sunday-school (600).
WESTMINSTER CHAPEL, James-street, Buckingham-gate, S.W... Seat rents not stated.
The chapel seats 2,500 persons.
WHITEPIELD TABERNACLE, Tabernacle-row, City-road, E.C.— Terms of
membership: "A profession of faith in, love for, and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ,
sustained by a consistent and holy life." Seat rents vary according to the position of the
pew and the circumstances of the person. All are expected to contribute something to the
support of the means grace who regularly attend them but the poorest are welcome even
when they can contribute nothing.
Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of London, 1879