Chapel Next the Green (the history of Twickenham Congregational Church) index page
“There are no Dissenting .. houses … in this Parish” wrote Ironside in 1797 in his ‘History and Antiquities of Twickenham‘. However at the end of that year a house in the occupation of Samuel Cape and Daniel White was registered for Methodist worship; three years later they were back to register the “chapel now building in Back Lane” (now Holly Road). Under the Toleration Acts buildings could not be used for dissenting public worship unless they had been first been registered with the Bishop – who however had no power to refuse registration.
In September 1812 the first Independent meeting was registered, worshipping at the house of Jonathan Giddens in Twickenham Common , the latter term indicating the area to the west of the town. One of the signatures on the certificate is that of ‘William Waring (Minister)’ but his name does not appear in Congregational records. Two further Independent meetings followed shortly afterwards. In 1818 a club room adjoining the ‘Royal Oak‘ was registered and in 1822 an undisclosed building in the occupation of Charles Rigg.”
Pigot’s Directories between 1824 and 1828 record the details of the Parish Church (mistakenly ascribing it to St Lawrence), adding ‘There are also a chapel of ease (i.e. Montpelier Chapel) and two meeting houses, one for the Wesleyan Methodists, and the other for the Unitarians“. Between 1832 and 1840 the wording reads: “one each for the Methodists and Independents”. Nothing is known of a Unitarian Church in Twickenham; however if one existed it could quite possibly have later changed its affiliation.
1835 chapel registration
To date there appears to be no evidence to link any of the above meetings with the origin of the Congregational Church. One last registration certificate (above, transcript below) dated December 1835 registers Lady Shaw’s School Room for public worship. The building referred to is the present church hall. Its foundation stone read ‘Infant School first stone’, but with no readable date. It is known that an infant School was formed in Twickenham in 1830 but its location is not known. So in the absence of any further evidence we can date the church back to 1835.
TRANSCRIPT OF CHAPEL REGISTRATION GUILDHALL MANUSCRIPT 9580/7 p.192
Twickenham Lady Shaws School Room
To the Right Reverend Father in God by divine permission Bishop of London
I, Hull Terrell of number 30 Basinghall Street in the city of London Solicitor do hereby certify that a certain building situate in the parish of Twickenhz-m1 in the county of Middlesex in the diocese of London in the occupation of Mary Clift called Lady Shaws School Room is intended to be used as a chapel for religious worship by protestant Dissenters from the Church of England of the denomination of Independents under and by virtue of the statute of the first of King William and Queen Mary intituled:
“An act for excepting their Majesty’s Protestant subjects dissenting from the Clurch of England from the penalty of certain laws”
and also by virtue of the statute of the 52nd year of King George intituled:
“An act to repeal certain acts and amend other acts relating to religious worship and Assemblies and persons teaching or preaching therein”
— And I request this certificate may be registered in the Commissary Court of your lordship. Dated the 11th day of Dec. 1835
Hull Terrell
Reg’d 28th Dec. 1835
(Reproduced by permission of Guildhall Library EC2 and the Diocese of London)
Chapel Next the Green (the history of Twickenham Congregational Church) index page
Rev. Arthur Parker
Following Mr Rhys‘ resignation the LCU came to the aid of the Church, as it had done fifty years earlier, promising to find preachers for three months and then “someone to act as minister for a year in the hope of holding up the church again”.
During the summer of 1929 the church was led by Mr B.A.Boghurst, a student from Hackney and New College, but he could not be considered for the pastorate as his studies were not to be complete until 1932 (when he was ordained to Brentford). In June 1929 the Diaconate was strengthened by the co-option of Mr Ernest Dawe. In April 1930 he was elected Treasurer, an appointment which was to involve considerable financial sacrifice.
A permanent leader was still needed. A visiting preacher, the Rev Arthur Parker from Arundel, was asked whether he would consider the vacancy and being conscious of the need did not decline the suggestion. On September 1st 1930 he was unanimously invited to accept the pastorate at a stipend of £3 per week and “the opinion was expressed that the church was indeed fortunate in securing the services of a man of Mr Parker’s experience and proven ability.” He was then aged 72 and before residing in Arundel he had served as a missionary in India for 37 years. The house in Spencer Road, passed over 30 years earlier, was leased for three years with an option to purchase for £1050. On November 26th 1930 Mr Parker was inducted and hopes for a better future were expressed.
The finances were in an even more parlous state than usual. Membership had dropped from 100 in 1925 to 52. In March 1931 Mr Dawe had to borrow £100 from the LCU, on his personal guarantee, to meet current expenses. By September this was nearly exhausted and he “expressed his willingness to finance the Church until the situation is relieved by the Sale of Work to be held in December” – being Treasurer had its liabilities!
When Mr Dawe told the 1932 Annual Meeting that expenditure exceeded income by £150, Mr Purchase sagely remarked that “the position of the Church was nothing new and that in the present circumstances he considered the report satisfactory”.
Before coming to the church Mr Parker had hoped that under new leadership the members who had drifted away could be persuaded to renew their commitment to the Church, but apparently this did not happen. On September 29th 1932 Mr Parker tendered his resignation to the Church Meeting. His health was failing, moreover:
“He felt that his ministry had not been successful in building the church. The steady depletion of members during the last twelve months had weighed down his mind and spirit. He had hoped at the end of three years to have seen a Church set on its feet, both spiritually and financially … (He) agreed that feeling had not died and felt that any move regarding the members who had resigned would be resented“.
Evidently he found it hard to be struggling with troubles that were not of his making.
Consideration of the resignation was deferred for two weeks. At the second meeting Mr Purchase declared that he “could not bear the idea of Mr Parker leaving the Church for lack of support” and Mr Dawe “felt that the church had kept up its head during the last two years and declared that that the Church was teeming with young life“. The meeting unanimously asked Mr Parker to withdraw his resignation.
The following Sunday the Church was relieved to hear that Mr Parker had reconsidered his decision. After deep thought and prayer, and in the light of the two church meetings and many personal entreaties he felt “a second and urgent call to the pastorate” and would “take up the work again with renewed courage and confidence”. From this time on the church never looked back, and Mr Parker’s last year was one of consolidation and renewal. In July 1933 the League of Youth was re-formed and was to prosper in the years following.
In October 1933, as planned, Mr Parker retired:
“Since 1877 he had been a regular preacher of the gospel so that he regarded the action taken as an important event in his life. He added that it had been his great fortune to see the gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ at work in men and women. He referred to the great help he had had from his wife ..”
Two years of retirement were marred by much sickness and pain, and he died on December 6th 1935. His last pastorate had not been an easy one but it had provided a firm foundation for his successor to build on.
Chapel Next the Green (the history of Twickenham Congregational Church) index page
Rev. J.T.Rhys
In 1919, despite some opposition, the Congregational Union had introduced Moderators to facilitate ministerial settlements and removals, and so it was to the London Moderator, the Rev William Lee, that the deacons turned for advice. It was evident to all that the church could not support another full-time minister. Several candidates were suggested by the Moderator, but before they could be approached events took another course. At the Church Meeting on May 10th 1923 the Secretary (Robert Jones) explained that:
“On the advice of a former minister of the Church (the Rev Jenkyn James) he had submitted to the Deacons the name of the Rev J .T.Rhys as a gentleman likely to fill the position of minister of the Church. Mr Rhys, he was informed, was an able organiser – and the Church needed one – a pastor, and an acceptable preacher.”
Mr Rhys studied theology at Brecon Independent College, intending to offer himself for foreign missions. Before he had finished his studies he received a pressing invitation to the pastorate of the English Congregational Church at Pontycymmer. During his ten years there a new church was built. In 1906, he removed to Godreaman, Aberdare, where he stayed four years, followed by a six-year ministry at Rhyddings Congregational Church, Swansea.
From 1917 he was Secretary of the British & Foreign Sailors Society and Private Secretary to Dame Margaret Lloyd George. Indeed some said that he had an uncanny resemblance to Lloyd George, and a casual visitor might have thought the latter was in the pulpit. For his war-time efforts in raising money for London hospitals he was made a governor of the Middlesex and St. Bartholomew’s Hospitals.
In August 1923 the Church invited Mr Rhys to take charge of the Church for six months, on a part—time basis, at a stipend of four guineas per week, and soon afterwards he began his work. During the pastorate some tensions were to arise between deacons, minister and people. To understand these events, the non-Free church reader is reminded that a Congregational church is run on democratic principles, each member having a vote at the Church Meeting, which is (in theory at least) the only body entitled to make decisions (though delegated powers may be given to certain people or committees, subject to the church retaining overall control).
In November 1923, in Mr Rhys’ absence, the Church members decided to suspend the regular monthly Church meeting. In future, meetings “were to be called upon the recommendation of the deacons when they considered there was sufficient business to discuss”. For the next ten years the deacons meetings were to be the principal influence on Church life.
Three Church meetings only were held in 1924. At the first, in February, “several members spoke expressing great appreciation of Mr Rhys’ work and the deacons were asked to make his engagement permanent”. Subsequently the deacons wrote to Mr Rhys “to notify you officially that they recognise you as the permanent minister of the church“. Here perhaps they acted unconstitutionally; under the terms of the Trust Deed a valid call to a Minister could only be given from a Church Meeting specially convened for the purpose and announced on two preceding Sundays.
The premises again came under consideration. The Sunday School asked the deacons to consider improving their accommodation. In due course a committee reported to the deacons in April 1925 that they “considered it quite impracticable to embark on a scheme of rebuilding as it would cost about £3000 to give better accommodation than was at present available”,
The Superintendent, Mr Caywood, was unimpressed, “One wouldn’t mind the present premises if a decent schoolroom etc were only projected”. At the same meeting “the question of electric light was again raised and again opposed for reasons of Church heating”. However later that year the schoolroom was renovated, and the organ was rebuilt.
From this time on a certain mistrust seems to have grown up between the members and deacons/minister. In April 1926 the deacons decided that new deacons should be elected by the same method as in 1925: by asking for nominations on two successive Sundays. The Church Meeting dismissed this recommendation and resolved that ballot papers should be distributed to all members, despite Robert Jones’ protestation that as many no longer attended, the ballot would be a futile exercise.
A Church Council
The deacons, in defiance of Congregational principles, then confirmed their original decision and : “A discussion took place at some length on the action of the Church in practically declining to adopt the considered recommendation of its executive on more than one occasion. Mr Rhys then suggested that possibly a way of obviating difficulty of this sort would be the election of a Church Council with full powers to act without the Church.”
It is surprising that the Deacons were even willing to discuss a proposition incorporating the last phrase but Mr Rhys was asked to produce a draft constitution which was duly circulated to each deacon. The draft included the sentence: “The decisions of the Council to be valid without reference to the Church Meeting”. One copy of this draft came into the possession of a lady who was not a deacon, and during the summer of 1926 she was quietly organising opposition to the scheme and its originator.
On October 15th the deacons discussed the draft scheme. They were not unanimous, but after amending the offending sentence, decided to recommend the scheme to the Church. A Special Church Meeting was held on October 29th, to discuss the proposals. Most members, especially the younger ones, were in favour of the general principles of the scheme and appreciated that the object was to strengthen the work of the church. Some however, “were of the opinion that an attempt was on foot to deprive them of their privileges as Congregationalists“.
To the astonishment of many, the disaffected lady launched into a personal attack on Mr Rhys, which was heard in stunned silence. After a further amendment requiring ratification of the extent of delegation by a future Church Meeting, the proposals were then passed.
Now the storm broke. On Sunday morning Dr Jones presented his immediate resignation as Secretary, as a protest against the way in which the church had listened to the charges against their Minister without complaint. In this difficult situation, Mr F.W.Pearce gallantly agreed to act until a successor could be found. Two weeks later the members passed a vote of confidence in Mr Rhys. Mr Pearce chairing: “requested the members to very carefully consider the importance of arriving at an amicable settlement of the difficulties that had arisen largely due to a mistaken impression“.
On February 11th 1927 the Church Council held its first meeting, the Deacons being joined by representatives of the Choir, Sunday School, Boys Club, Junior Girls Club, Green Club, Ladies Working Party and Badminton Club.
Some members were still trying to cause dissent within the church and at the request of the Deacons, Mr Pearce ( Acting Secretary) wrote to the R.J.Evans, LCU Secretary, “The deacons have patiently endeavoured to remove the difficulties which have arisen but matters have now reached a crisis which will probably result in the resignation of the Minister and may probably lead to the closing of the church.” In February 1928 Mr Evans and Mr Lee were invited to a further meeting in an effort to resolve the divisions, but without apparent success.
That year church life continued, but without enthusiasm. One sad event in October brought all members to agree:
“That this church expresses its profound sorrow at the death of Mr F.W.Pearce, Senior Church Secretary and Deacon, and places on record its appreciation of his sterling Christian character.“
In his capacity as Surveyor Mr Pearce had served the Borough since 1899, and was once described as “Twickenham Council’s greatest public asset” He had taken on the duties of Secretary at a very difficult time, and it had been a heavy burden on top of his municipal duties.
In January 1929 Mr William Gould and Mr Purchase both resigned from active service on the Diaconate; Mr Purchase in particular was anxious that his absence from meetings should not be taken as a lessening of interest in the Church. It came as no surprise when Mr Rhys resigned from the pastorate in March. The church seemed set on decline and he could do no more. Until his death in 1938 aged seventy he continued to live in Udney Park Road, Teddington, writing many articles on religion, politics and social problems.
Chapel Next the Green (the history of Twickenham Congregational Church) index page
Rev. Harold Bickley
With a declining membership and parlous finances this was not an easy time for the Church to face an interregnum. In October 1916, for financial reasons, it was resolved “that no invitation be given for six months with a view to filling the pulpit vacancy“, in the meantime every member being pledged to maintain their support. The following February three alternative strategies were discussed: continuing without a pastor, a student pastorate, or a regular pastor. The latter was felt to be impractical for financial reasons. Instead it was agreed that Mr Peebles and Mr Purchase should approach Hackney & New College (part of London University) with a view to arranging a student pastorate. They were instructed to enquire specially as to the possibility of securing the services of Mr H.Bickley who preached in the church the previous Sunday week.
The delegation was received by Dr P.T.Forsyth, College Principal and eminent theologian, and with his permission they interviewed Mr Bickley. The outcome was a letter to Dr Forsyth inviting “Mr Bickley to take the pastoral charge of the Twickenham Congregational Church from now till the end of the end of the war.” This wording did not find favour with Dr Forsyth who was naturally anxious to secure permanent settlements for his students, but the church was anxious to do nothing that would have even the appearance of unduly enabling Mr Bickley to escape the provisions of the Military Service Act. The Church would support Mr Bickley’s appeal to the Military Tribunal by every legitimate means”. Still anxious to secure Mr Bickley the period of the call was changed to “for a period of one year”, which in the circumstances was evidently acceptable.
After these negotiations, which had taken place largely without his knowledge, Mr Bickley commenced his first pastorate in July 1917 and was ordained on October 17th . The new minister brought with him a great love of literature; he was born in Stratford upon Avon and educated at Shakespeare’s school, King Edward VI Grammar School. He drew on this during his time in Twickenham by serving as Secretary of the local Literary and Scientific Society and also inspired the setting up of a church ‘Dramatic Circle’ which continued long after his departure.
Mr Bickley quickly endeared himself to the members and in February 1918 the call was made permanent; the stipend was raised from £120 to £160 + 5/8 of offerings in excess of £240. In May, following the mood of the times, it was agreed:
“That two Lady Deacons or Deaconesses be appointed or coopted by the newly appointed Diaconate, such ladies to be members of the Church, the wives of Deacons to be ineligible. Names of ladies suggested by the Church to be favourably considered”.
The July Deacons’ meeting duly resolved “that Mrs Lewis and Miss Ethel Purchase be co-optative menbers of the Diaconate“.
1918 also saw problems with the neighbours: the Acre Steel Co. fixed their buildings to the Church walls without consent, necessitating legal action. At the same time the Secretary was instructed to write to the butcher “complaining of driving of cattle and lowing of same during worship on Sunday morning to the great annoyance of the congregation” – at the time CNG was published, morning worship had to pause as Concorde flew over!
The effects of the war were still being felt. Permission was given for a memorial tablet to Stanley Mann, a former Sunday who was shot down over France. The Sunday School arranged a tea and entertainment for wounded soldiers from Hampton Court. The membership roll was revised in May 1918, leaving 69 active members, only eight of whom had joined during the war. One was these was Mrs Emily Cumber (nee Potterill), who was still an active member 66 years later when CNG was published.
About this time it was realised that of the eleven trustees appointed in 1866 only one, Alfred Deayton, survived and he was now living in Bristol. With his consent, and after considerable formalities the trusteeship was transferred to LCU Inc. in July 1919, subsequently passing to the URC Southern Province in 1982.
The finances, never strong, had also suffered from the war; in October 1919 the stipend was raised to £208, which before the war would have been acceptable, but was now quite frankly inadequate (During WW1 prices more than doubled). By way of compensation it was resolved:
“unanimously and enthusiastically that the Church records its high appreciation of, and gratification with, the pulpit and pastoral ministrations of its minister and hopes that the harmony and mutual esteem of the past will characterise the years to come”.
In the late 1970’s whilst researching CNG I visited an elderly Mr Bickley at his Somerset home. One story he told me was of how, having gone on holiday and come back with a wife, most members were delighted. However Mr Peebles, Secretary, called on him and told him that he had no business getting married on the stipend he was receiving. Mr Bickley bit his lip, thinking that if so, the church had no business paying such a low stipend! Instead, with the Deacons’ consent, in 1920 he took up the post of Latin master at Richmond Grammar School to supplement the inadequate stipend.
With the end of the war attention turned to the buildings. In 1919, Mrs Lloyd George was secured to open the Bazaar and the next summer the church was closed for substantial redecoration. The installation of electric lighting was investigated but not pursued.
In 1921 new officers took over – Mr T.A.Webb became Church Secretary, though Mr Peebles remained as Secretary to the deacons for a further eighteen months. On Mr Webb’s inspiration monthly Church and Deacons meetings were reinstated. That June Mr Purchase retired from his second term as Treasurer “amidst universal regret that the lengthening shadows had deprived the Church of such an able and genial treasurer”.
Great happiness was felt by the whole Church when Mr and Mrs Purchase celebrated their Golden Wedding in July 1922. That same month, upon Mr Webb’s removal from the district, Mr A.P.Butcher (not present) was elected Church Secretary, “Mrs Butcher alone dissenting”. He did not accept the post and a newer member, Mr Robert Jones, was elected.
Given Mr Bickley’s undoubted ability, and the inability of the Church to properly reward him, It Came as no great Surprise when, in November 1922, he announced that he had accepted a call to Doddridge Memorial Church Northampton, which had 252 members and 608 children.
Mr Bickley’s subsequent career is a testimony to those abilities first recognised by our members in 1917. From Northampton he went on to Boulevard Church, Weston super Mare. The Church was bombed out in the war but Mr Bickley held the fellowship together. Then after four years in Plymouth, he was appointed as Moderator of the Western Province of the Congregational Union, a post he held from 1950 to 1960. After two further years at Bovey Tracey (Dartmoor) he retired to Somerset, where he lives today, still smoking his pipe and reciting Shakespeare.
Chapel Next the Green (the history of Twickenham Congregational Church) index page
Rev. Jenkyn James
Over a year was to pass before the vacancy was filled, A much-liked candidate had to be passed over because the Church could not guarantee a higher stipend than £200. However in May 1908 Rev Jenkyn James, standing in for a friend, preached to such a favourable reception that he was requested to preach ‘with a view‘ at the earliest possible opportunity.
When the Committee learned this could not be before July, Mr Clifford Paterson and Mr John Lewis, newly appointed as Secretary and Treasurer respectively, were deputed to visit Mr James’ church at Griffithstown, Monmouthshire and report back. Their reports were favourable and after he had preached again in July he was invited to accept the pastorate.
Mr James took up the post in October 1908, moving into a house in Strawberry Hill. At 42 he was somewhat older than his immediate predecessors but quickly gained the love and respect of the membership.
In early 1909 a Church Manual was published (printed by the Richmond firm of J.H.Broad, one of the Committee) and a surviving copy gives a comprehensive picture of Church life at the time. Among the activities listed were the week-night service, always a prominent feature of church life at this time, the Choir (18 members – choirmaster W.E.Gould), the Sunday School (383 children, 17 teachers, Superintendents J .Stirling and C.C.Paterson), the Mothers Meeting and Maternity Committee, the Boys Brigade, the Fellowship Guild (Secs: Dr and Mrs Harker; “this had been a blessing to many homes where distress and poverty threatened”) and the Strawberry Hill Lawn Tennis Club (“This Club is composed chiefly of members of the Church and Congregation by whom it is carried on ….play may be had on any weekday during the months May to September”). During his pastorate Mr Simmonds had been a keen member of the last-mentioned whose links with the Church were “close but unofficial”. ’
In April 1909 the Diaconate was reconstituted, only men being eligible; of the eleven deacons, seven had joined during Mr Simmonds’ ministry. Two, John Gould and his son William had been present at the 1882 re-formation and were possibly connected long before this.
At their second meeting the deacons considered the acquisition of a house in Spencer Road for use as a Manse. This was not proceeded with, partly because of the cost (£450) but also because “… the question was raised of the advisability of purchasing a manse at the present juncture, since if the Church grew (as there was a prospect of it doing in the near future) a new church building scheme might be initiated and the position of the proposed manse might be too remote from the proposed site“.
Fifteen additional sittings were being let each year, and “Mr Deayton estimated that the Church will be practically full in three years”. Sadly this rate of growth was not maintained and no more was heard of this building scheme.
Despite this growth the Church finances were in their usual weak state. When, in August 1910, the Deacons were told that “the whole of the tiling might slip off at any moment, as there is virtually nothing to hold it up” they could only afford to spend £20 on slating half the church roof, and so for many years the roof was half slated and half tiled!
By the end of that year, in an effort to improve the finances, the adoption of a Freewill Offering system was proposed sill was adopted the following March. Pew rents, which did not always reflect members ability to give, were replaced with envelope giving, much as today, though some members were still insisting on paying pew rent ten years later.
A Town Hall Bazaar in 1911 raised £197 out of which the organ was cleaned. For the following three years deficits necessitated gift days in the late autumn. Mr James had been guaranteed a stipend of £200 and whilst this was honoured, giving never allowed this figure to be increased and with wartime inflation its real value decreased.
The First World War
The minutes suggest that the war had few effects on church life at first, though in September 1914 “it was felt that decorations should not be purchased for the Harvest Festival”. In 1916 Air Raid insurance was taken out, but was not renewed as the risk did not seem to justify it.
With so many being called up and the demands of war work it became harder to fill church offices; in 1915 Mr Purchase came out of retirement to serve as Financial Secretary. In October 1917 he added the post of Treasurer when Willian Gould resigned due to business pressures.
In April 1916 Mr Paterson resigned as Secretary; as his subsequent career shows he was a man of outstanding ability . At the next meeting Mr Purchase was asked to pen a testimonial to him at the end of the previous minutes and added “…it was felt the loss would be difficult to make good, especially under the present circumstances”.
At the same meeting Mr James tendered his resignation, having accepted a call to the church at Hounslow. At the Annual Meeting it was resolved that “the Church and congregation desire to put on record its profound thanks to Mr James for his helpful and devoted ministry during eight years of peaceful and harmonious church life … They desire further to put on record their affectionate regard for Mrs James who has supported the church in a like spirit….”
Mr James moved to Hounslow in September 1916 where he ministered until his untimely death in 1924 at the early age of 58.
Chapel Next the Green (the history of Twickenham Congregational Church) index page
Benjamin Kluht was born in 1816 and grew up in the Wesleyan church. As a lay pastor he served the Independent chapels at Twyford, Berks, and Emsworth, Hants. It was then suggested to him that he would benefit from college training and this he undertook at Hackney College. On completing his course in 1840 he was invited to become the first pastor of ‘Lady Shaw’s Chapel, Twickenham’, where he was ordained. He lived in Hampton Road, in a house rented from a Mr Emanuel.
Evangelical magazine 1841, p.252
“On Wednesday, March 10, the Rev B.H.Kluht, late of Hackney College, was publicly ordained to the pastorate office of the Independent Chapel, Twickenham….
At the close of the morning service, a number of ministers and friends dined at the George Inn. Sir Robert Shaw presided; and his excellent lady was also present. …”
Evangelical magazine 1843, p.409
Twickenham: The foundation stone of a new Independent chapel was laid at the above place, on 10th April 1843. The ceremony was performed by Sir Robert Shaw, Bart, acting for his excellent lady, who has been the principal means, under God, of introducing and sustaining the gospel in the neighbourhood, and who, beside giving the ground on which the chapel will stand, contributes liberally towards its erection. The service was commenced by an appropriate hymn from Dr Leifchild’s Original Hymns, which was given out by the Rev B.H. Kluht, the pastor of the church, for whose accommodation the building is being erected; the Rev J. West of Sunbury read Psalm cxviii; the Rev J. Churchill of Thames Ditton, gave a brief history of the rise and progress of the Independent interest at Twickenham; the Rev J. Leifchild, D.D., of London, addressed the spectators on the doctrines and discipline of Independent churches; and the Rev W.Collins, (Baptist) of Kingston, concluded with prayer. The Rev Messrs Lord, Stevens and Hedges took part in the service; and notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather the attendance was very numerous.
The drawing below shows the first chapel on the left and the schoolroom on the right
Evangelical magazine 1848, p.205
“The Rev B.H. Kluht late of Twickenham, has received and accepted a cordial and unanimous invitation to the pastorate of the Independent Church, Billericay, Essex …. Prior to his leaving Twickenham a public tea meeting was held at which a present of a valuable publication was given to him in the name of the teachers of the sabbath school. At the same time a number of his ministerial brethren expressed their great respect for Mr Kluht, and regret at his leaving the neighbourhood.”
Mr Kluht ministered in Billericay and the surrounding villages until February 1856. One of his early tasks was the founding of a British School to provide elementary education for the poor. This first met in a hired cottage then in a purpose-built schoolroom, now the Rose Hall. He moved to Gravesend where he died in 1868 at the young age of 52. His son, Alfred, became pastor at Billericay in 1876.
THE FIRST TRUST DEED 1848
This document, dated May 30th 1848, is referred to in the later (1866) trust deed, and a copy is held by the Public Record Office (Link). Because of its length I didn’t get to study it in detail.
As already mentioned, the recital of title states that the property was placed in trust for Lady Shaw at the time of her marriage and adds that the first chapel was erected on her initiative. The deed was executed at her request, conveying the chapel and its site to ten trustees, most of them Congregational ministers. The terms on which the chapel was to be held were set out in great detail. The trustees accepted responsibility for a debt of £550, “incurred in the erection and fitting up of the said chapel”.
The deed confirms that the north of the site was bounded by the “school house and premises belonging to the said Dame Amelia Shaw, commonly called Lady Shaw’s school (and) on the west by gardens belonging to the dwelling house in the tenure or occupation of Dame Amelia Shaw or her servants …“ Most of the terms of the Trust were concerned with ensuring the Church was run on Congregational principles. Rules for the mode of appointment (and dismissal!) of a pastor, what beliefs he was to hold and teach, and much more were set out. Deacons, elected by men and women, were to collect pew rents, pay the pastor and meet other expenses, and keep the accounts. Perhaps because of the proximity of Lady Shaw’s house there was an express prohibition on internments, reinforced with the injunction that “in case any such interment or interments should, notwithstanding this regulation, be made within or under the said meeting house or chapel and such premises, the said deacons . . . shall as soon thereafter as conveniently may be, cause the body or bodies so interred to be taken up and removed to be decently buried elsewhere“. As far as is known the deacons were spared this task!
TWO SHORT PASTORATES
The history of the next six years is very uncertain. According to a manuscript note in the Church archives, quarrels between Lady Shaw and Mrs Lichfield led to the closing of the Chapel in 1849. More probably the closure (see Appendix 1) was connected with the death of Sir Robert Shaw. The CYB 1849 confirms that Edward Tasker was minister during that year but the next edition shows him living in Twickenham “without pastoral charge”, the Church being shown as vacant.
In 1851, a religious census was held, which showed that more people were attending Chapel than Church (C.E.). The return for the “Independent Chapel, Twickenham” survives in the PRO. In the old chapel there were apparently 250 free sittings and 125 other (presumably rented) sittings.
On the census date, Sunday March 30th 1851, 68 adults and 56 children attended morning worship, and 196 adults were at evening worship; the average attendance over the last five months had been 75/60 and 170 respectively. The returns were signed by Samuel Hayward (Minister), 20 Trafalgar Square (Twickenham) . He recently returned from sixteen years of missionary work in British Guiana and was a regular preacher for a period, though not as minister . A notable preacher that same year was Dr Leifchild, minister of Craven Chapel, Bayswater.”
In 1852 the Rev Philip Kent, Metropolitan District Secretary of the Bible Society since 1848, assumed part time charge of the Church; again this arrangement appears in one Yearbook only. In 1854 he went to Canada as a deputation speaker.
Chapel Next the Green (the history of Twickenham Congregational Church) index page
Rev. F.T.Simmonds
No time was wasted in endeavouring to find a suitable successor to Mr Hanson and in February 1899 another young man, the Rev. F.T. Simmonds, minister of Kings Lynn, was invited to accept the pastorate. He had been ordained there three years earlier.
In April 1899 he commenced his ministry and changes followed. The young Minister’s enthusiasm for youth work, social concerns, evangelism and inter-church work quickly became evident but did not endear him to all the members. During his first few years he was conscious of dissent within the Church and on four occasions it was felt necessary to pass votes of confidence in the Pastor, once after he had tendered his resignation. One member to leave during this period was Willian Allison, who served as Church Secretary for 13 years and was also Sunday School Superintendent. Discontent was lessened when in 1903 the Diaconate was replaced by a Church Committee, with a more broadly-based membership.
As older members left new ones came in. Of the 95 members on the roll after revision in November 1907, 62 had joined during Mr Simmonds’ pastorate. Many of them had moved into the new middle-class housing being built in the area and would become leaders of the Church in the years to come. One new member Dr John Harker (of N.P.L. Teddington) recalled at Mr Simmonds’ farewell meeting how he had come to join the Church. Addressing the meeting :
“He well remembered the first Sunday evening he entered the Church. Good Mr Purchase was in the porch, smiling, and gave him a hymn-book and showed him into a seat. He did not remember what the sermon was about, and there was not a large congregation, and it was not a grand service, but he went home and told his wife (and) after his wife had been to a single service he didn’t know which of them was the more delighted.“
Dr Harker was subsequently to serve as a Deacon and Co-Secretary; as for Mr Purchase, at the 1906 Annual Meeting he was presented with “a handsome black marble clock with Corinthian pillars and side ornaments” in recognition of his long and faithful service as Treasurer appreciation was also shown in a less tangible form when he and Mr John Gould were made Honorary (Life) Deacons in 1907.
INDIVIDUAL COMMUNION CUPS
The one substantial change in worship during this period was the introduction in 1905 of individual communion cups which Mr Simmonds felt were “more cleanly, more orderly, and more in keeping with the earliest traditions of the Christian Church”. Despite a three-month trial not all members were convinced, so as a true British compromise it was agreed to use individual cups and the common cup at alternate communion services. (By 1910 the Rev Jenkyn James felt able to state that “he did not think that the former antipathy, which was chiefly of a sentimental character, now existed” and “on the question of the health of the community they (individual cups) were most desirable” and so the matter was finally settled.)
Members were also being encouraged to show their concern for those in need of help. The minutes record collections for free breakfasts for poor children during the winter, Christmas dinners for the needy, St John’s Hospital collections, whilst the Church Lady visitors and Fellowship Guild undertook many tasks that are now the responsibility of the social services.
In November 1905 a request to use the hall for a meeting to inaugurate a new branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants was acceded to, the Committee feeling “that in view of the large number of railway employees living in the district encouragement should be given in the matter.“ Meanwhile the connection of the church with education was diminishing. After the opening of the Trafalgar schools in 1904 the financial position of the day school became uncertain, and when Miss Ramsey, the schoolmistress, removed it from the church in 1906 the Committee agreed to waive the rent owing. Meanwhile Mr Simmonds had become a founder member of the Education Committee and a manager of Trafalgar schools and was prominent in representing Nonconformist interests. In 1903, under the ‘conscience clause’ of the 1902 Education Act instruction was being given separately to 200 children in the Baptist schoolroom from 9 to 9.30 a.m. daily, and an appeal had to be made to the church members for help.
Life was not all serious. There were various organisations (including the Boys Brigade founded in 1906) the annual launch and regular bazaars. Noteworthy was the 1902 Centenary Bazaar, held Town Hall over a three-day period. A surviving programme shows what an elaborate affair it was; the proceeds grossed £306, well over one year’s stipend!
In April 1907 the Church Meeting was informed that their Pastor had tendered his resignation “to compile and edit an important literary work” which the church magazine was “convinced will be widely greatly appreciated by a world-wide clientele”. In 1909 Vol 1 of the ‘The Pulpit Encyclopaedia’, compiled by Mr Simmonds was published but as far as is known no further volumes appeared. By this time he had resumed pastoral charge at Romford; subsequently he served with the YMCA, before resigning from the ministry.
The farewell meetings were marked by warm letters of appreciation from the Vicar of Twickenham, Fr. English the Roman Catholic Priest, and Mr Poupart, a former Chairman of the Twickenham UDC (whose Education Committee was “losing its right arm”). Verbal tributes were paid by many friends from within and outside the Church. The retiring Pastor looking back on his eight years in the district remarked on the prominent position which Nonconformity had come to hold in the town within that time – four out of the last five Council Chairmen had been Nonconformists – and on the close friendships and cooperation which had grown between the denominations largely, in Mr Simmonds view, because of the 1902 Education Act which they had jointly opposed.
Chapel Next the Green (the history of Twickenham Congregational Church) index page
Rev. George Hamson
It is not known whether Mr Calvert influenced the choice of his successor but in September 1895 (at the first Church Meeting since February): Mr G.A.Hamson of Hackney College, then aged 26, was invited to accept the pastorate “as soon as he can be freed from his College duties”, the Church. undertaking to raise a minimum stipend of £130. Mr Hanson had grown in the Congregational Church at Hinckley (where his father was a prominent member) and had joined the Church during Mr Calvert’s pastorate there.
In January 1896 Mr Hamson started his ministry at Twickenham though he had preached regularly as a student during the latter part of 1895 . At his first Church Meeting on January 30th 1896 it was decided to adopt the ‘Congregational Church Hymnal’ and obtain 100 copies for the use of visitors. In July it was agreed to reconstitute the Diaconate and in due course five deacons were elected, the Committee being thanked “for the very able way in which they had conducted their very difficult duties”.
1897 saw further progress. In that year 33 members joined the church, 18 on profession of faith. Two additional deacons were elected; at the end of the Year it was agreed (not for the first or last time) to introduce Communion Cards – absence from six consecutive services without sufficient reason would constitute a lapse of membership.
That year also saw some of the first moves towards inter-church cooperation: a branch of the Free Church Federal Council was formed at Richmond and the Church decided to affiliate. That Christmas a united service with the Baptists and Methodists was held at the Wesleyan Church and similar services were held for many years after.
The members were no doubt hoping for a long and successful pastorate, but in June 1898 these hopes were quashed. Mr Hanson told the Church meeting that he had been offered the pastorate of Coggeshall Church, Essex, and felt led to accept. Many members joined in the discussion “and very great pressure was brought upon the Pastor to withdraw his resignation, it being felt that his leaving Twickenham would be nothing short of a calamity”. The members resolved unanimously “that our Pastor be requested to reconsider the matter for one week and that the Church Meeting be adjourned until next Thursday at 8.0″. The following week the members were disappointed when the Secretary, Mr Allison, read a letter from Mr Hamson confirming his decision, and the resignation was accepted ‘with profound regret”. At the end of June and Mrs Hamson left for Coggeshall; 60 members had joined the church during his two-and-a-half-year pastorate.
Mr Hanson ministered at Coggeshall and then South Woodford before becoming secretary of the Young People’s Missionary Movement in 1911. In 1913, he also became the secretary of Hackney College. When in 1915 the YPMM closed because of the war, he went to Cheshire, serving the churches at Liscard and Neston, retiring in 1938. He was also a director of the LMS from 1903 until shortly before his death on 14 February 1947.
Chapel Next the Green (the history of Twickenham Congregational Church) index page
In September 1877 the LCU requested its West District Committee (WDC) to confer with the Church with a view to filling the pulpit, but before they could act the Church sent a call to the Rev E.Schnadhorst of North Bow. Evidently he did not accept, for within six months, with the agreement of the Church, the LCU had formed a committee to superintend the Church. On 16th December 1878 the LCU General Committee was advised that as:
“The divisions in the Church and Committee were such as to give no hope of any good being done by the one or the other. The District Committee recommend that the Church should be disbanded“. The following resolution passed at a Trustees meeting held on 12th December was read:
“That we are of the opinion that it is desirable that the church at Twickenham should be dissolved and that the Chapel and schools should be used for a time as a mission station for public worship and instruction and we are prepared in the event of this course of action being adopted to ask the London Congregational Union to take the direction of the work for a tine and give them our sympathy and aid in carrying out the same.”
It was resolved that the District Committee be empowered to act with a view to disbanding the Church and the Secretary was empowered to continue the supply of the pulpit.
OVERSIGHT FROM GEORGE WALKER
Acting on this, the Rev George Walker was engaged to take charge of the fellowship. The Rev Robert Macbeth, minister of Hammersmith Church and LCU West District Secretary reported to the General Committee on 17th March 1879:
“that the Church had been dissolved, that services were being continued, and that the Trustees were prepared to cooperate with the Union if the Union would provide supplies… The W. District Committee recommended the General Committee to sanction the engagement of Mr Walker to supply It was agreed that he be engaged for six or 12 months … and a grant of £100 be promised. The understanding to be that this appointment did not constitute him to be the pastor.“
George Walker was to supervise the work of the Church for two years. In May 1879 the RTT advertised the re-opening of the Sunday School; later that year the chapel was closed for renovations.
On a lighter note a series of fortnightly lectures was started in November 1879. The lectures included ‘Longfellow, his place and power as a poet’, by G.S.Ingram, former pastor; ‘American Humour’ and ‘Ferns of Devon‘ , by George Walker himself; and reflecting an interest in the technology of the time, ‘The Phones: Microphone, Telephone and Phonograph’, by J.E.Greenhill.
By March 1880 the WDC were having second thoughts and recommended the ending of “the engagement with Rev G.Walker, who gives the impression of busybodying in two or three Churches at one time”. The Church expressed an opposite view, and the LCU agreed to continue the arrangement “with the hope that it will not be unduly prolonged”.
In February 1881 Mr Walker wrote to the LCU stating that “if a greatly reduced grant was made for the half year he would leave at the latest by the end of June” . To encourage him on his way the grant was promptly halved to £25 for the half year! This left Mr Walker with little option but to leave, though for several years after he was writing to the LCU complaining that he had not meant to be taken seriously. During this period he published two editions of ‘Sermons preached at Twickenham Congregational Church’.
His last pastorate was at Long Melford, Suffolk (1884-1894), after which he remained out of charge until his death in April 1908.
TOWARDS RE-FORMATION
To ascertain the situation for himself the Rev Andrew Mearns, Secretary of the LCU, conducted the services on July 3rd and 17th 1881, and reported that “the total number present on the Sunday was about 50 in the morning and 100 in the evening including the boys from Fortescue House“. Within two weeks the LCU engaged a young man, Aurelius Gliddon, to take charge of the Church. Mr Gliddon had trained for the Methodist ministry at Headingly College, and until March 1881 had been a Wesleyan chaplain to the forces in Malta.
He quickly made an impact on the church and in September it was reported to the LCU that “the attendance at the Sunday services and the weekly offerings had considerably increased”. The following month it was reported that “the Trustees are anxious for the church to be re-formed and a mortgage raised to pay off all liabilities“. The winter months discussions were held with the LCCBS who agreed not to press for payments due for work carried out during the LCU oversight. In January 1882 the LCU agreed that the WDC could proceed with the arrangements for the re-formation of the Church.
Before these were completed Mr Gliddon took a short break and on March 16th married Margaret Lelean at Ebenezer Chapel, Guernsey. It was a gesture of confidence in the future that was not to be misplaced. On their return the delighted members of the congregation held a reception for the couple, the RTT reporting that “Mr Gliddon had only been the minister of the Church for eight or nine months but has during that time won the esteem and regard of his people“. Slight journalistic licence — but it was not to be long before he was minister. With his new wife, he moved into a house in Popes Avenue rented from Abraham Slade.
Chapel Next the Green (the history of Twickenham Congregational Church) index page
Rev. Arthur Calvert
The Church decided not to hurry into filling the vacancy, probably to improve the finances. However at the end of 1891 a unanimous call was sent to Rev Arthur Calvert, which was accepted. At Hinckley, his first church, he had built the membership up “in spite of a touch of new theology which was not easily accepted by older members of the Church“
Now that the LCU grant had ceased finances were under pressure and the stipend, only £160, was guaranteed, for the first year only. In February 1892 Mr Calvert took up his duties. Members to join that year included the Misses Kate and Ethel Purchase in early June, followed by their parents, William and Lydia a few weeks later. The following year Mr Calvert was told that although the £160 stipend could not be guaranteed the Church would try to raise this figure. To assist in this it was agreed “that the present system of envelopes be discontinued (the present envelope users being asked to adopt the pew rent system instead) also that pew to pew collections be made after each service, alms bags being used for this purpose”. The pew rent system had been in operation in 1886, but there is no record of it having been abandoned.
During this period it appears that not all members were fully supporting the Church possibly because of Mr Calvert’s ‘New Theology’. Matters came to a head in May 1894 when the retiring Deacons, William Allison and John Gould, declined to accept re-election. At their request a Special Church Meeting was held on June 7th and a long and heated discussion took place. The feeling of the meeting was that “there was a great want of interest shown by a large section of the church and congregation” and the Pastor concurred in this view.
It came as no great surprise when it was announced the next February that Mr Calvert had accepted a call to the Oldham (Regent Street) church. At the same meeting the entire Diaconate retired and was replaced by a Committee elected “to attend to all matters pertaining to the Church, including the raising of funds, mode of raising funds etc”. The nine elected included two ladies, Mrs Reid and Mrs Tite; on the death of the latter in 1899 a memorial tablet was erected in the church.
Mr Calvert moved from Twickenham in March 1895; he served at Oldham until 1902 and then appears to have withdrawn from the Congregational ministry.
