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Consecrated commonsense
The church grew rapidly, with nearly 900 members in the mid-1860s. Even so, within a decade of opening, Brock was lamenting the loss of members who moved to the suburbs.
Brock, who had himself served a difficult commercial apprenticeship, was particularly good at drawing young men working in London's business houses. An annual Midsummer Morning Service for Young Men and Maidens at 7am was always packed out. The Mutual Improvement Society provided some ongoing education for youths who, aged 13, were already in the work force.
The church only practised believer's baptism, but both communion and membership were open to professing Christians coming from other traditions. In 1851, however, expecting many visitors in London for the Great Exhibition, the church announced that those Americans who practised or condoned slavery would not be welcome at the table.
Members gave both money and long hours of personal effort to the various labours of love, including the Domestic Mission in the slums nearby. This work was led by George M'Cree, again a man of "consecrated commonsense". Until 1870 the chapel basement housed a Day School midweek, providing good elementary education cheaply for children of the "respectable poor".
The work continued along similar lines under the Revd Joseph Chown (minister 1875-85), the Revd James Baillie (1886-96), and the Revd Benjamin Gibbon (1897-1903). Gradually the slums were redeveloped, the area improved, and the Mission moved to multi-cultural Soho. As leisure hours increased, sports clubs flourished beside Bible Classes, providing a full programme to keep young people out of temptation. Several entered the ministry or went overseas as missionaries.
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Revd William Brock: preached from "the Bible and The Times". |
