The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-05 00:00:00

Roman Catholicism in Kensington.

The London Review gives the following account
of the extent of Catholicism in Kensington :

Formerly, for the accommodation of the whole of the
Roman Catholics of this parish, there was but one small
chapel near the High-street, which appeared amply suffi-
cient for the members of that creed. But ten or twelve
years ago a Roman Catholic builder purchased, at an
enormous price, a plot of ground about three acres in ex-
tent beside the church of the Holy Trinity, Brompton.
For a time considerable mystery prevails as to the uses it
was to be applied to ; but, shortly after the buildings were
commenced, they were discovered to be the future resi-
dence and church of the Oratorian Fathers removed to it
from their former dwelling; and the chapel, a small and
commodious erection, was opened for divine service. At
first the congregation was of the scantiest description ;
even on Sundays at high mass, small as the chapel was, it
was frequently only half filled, while, on week days, at
many of the services it was no uncommon circumstance to
find the attendance scarcely more numerous than the num-
ber of priests serving at the altar. By degrees the congre-
gation increased, till the chapel was found too small for
their accommodation, and extensive alterations were made
to it ; but these, again, were soon filled to overflowing, and
further alterations had to be made, till at last the building
was capable of holding without difficulty from 2,000 to 2,500
persons. It is now frequently so crowded at high mass
that it is difficult for an individual entering it after the
commencement of the service to find even standing room.
In the mean time the monastery itself, if that is the proper
term, was completed—a splendid appearance it presents—
and we believe is fully occupied, The Roman Catholic
population in the parish, or mission, under the spiritual
direction of the Fathers of the Oratory, now comprises be-
tween 7,000 and 8,000 souls. The average attendance at
mass on Sunday is about 5,000, and the average number of
communicants for the last two years has been about 45,000
annually. But in addition to this church, Kensington has
three others, St. Mary's, Upper Holland-street, St. Simon
Stock, belonging to the Carmelite Friars, and the Church
of St. Francis Assisi, in Notting-hill. Of monasteries, or
religious communities of men, it has the Oratorians before
mentioned, and the Discalced Carmelites, in Vicarage-
place. Of convents of ladies it has the Assumption in Ken-
sington-square, the Poor Clares Convent in Edmond-ter-
race, the Franciscan Convent in Portobello-road, and the
Sisters of Jesus, 4, Holland-villas. Of schools, the Roman
Catholics possess, in the parish of Kensington, the Orpha-
nage in the Fulham-road, the Industrial School of St.
Vincent de Paul, as well as the large Industrial School for
Girls in the Southern ward. All these schools are very
numerously attended, the gross number of pupils amount-
ing to 1,200, those of the Oratory alone being 1,000. The
kindness and consideration shown by the Roman Catholic
teachers to the children of the poor is above all praise, not
only in Kensington, but in all localities where they aro
under their charge, and the love they receive from their
pupils in return forms one of their most powerful engines
in their system of proselytizing. Unfortunately in Ken-
sington, we are sorry to say, a considerable number of the
pupils in the Roman Catholic schools are children of Pro-
testants, and they seem rather to increase than to decrease.
It might be imagined from this account of the Roman
Catholic institutions in Kensington that a general rush
had been made upon that parish, and that the surrounding
districts were comparatively free from Roman Catholics.
Such, however, is very far from being the case. In the
union of Fulham and Hammersmith we have the Roman
Catholic church of St. Thomas of Canterbury, the church
of the Holy Trinity, Brook-green, and the church of our
Lady of Grace, Turnham-green. Of monasteries there are
the St. Mary's Training College and the Brothers of Mercy,
and for ladies there is the order of the Good Shepherd.
Of charities and schools they have the Holy Trinity Alms-
houses on Brook-green, a Home for Aged Females, a Re-
fuge for Female Penitents, most admirably managed and
producing a most beneficial effect, an excellent Reforma-
tory for Criminal Boys, the large Industrial Schools of St.
Vincent de • Paul, and a Home, St. Joseph's, for Destitute
Boys. In Bayswater there is the cathedral of St. Mary's
of the Angels (of which the celebrated Dr. Manning is the
superior), and the convent of Notre Dame de Sion. In
Chelsea there is the church of St. Mary's, Cadogan-ter-
race, a convent for the Sisters of Mercy, another for the
Third Order of Servites, as well as two well-conducted
and numerously-attended schools.

Such, according to the London Review, is the increase of
the Roman Catholics in Kensington.

NEVER SAY DYE !—A young lady being asked
whether she would wear a wig when her hair turned grey,
replied, with the greatest earnestness', " Oh, I'll dye are,"

„--
Court

HER MAJESTY.

BALMORAL, June 2.

The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise,
drove out yesterday morning ; and in the afternoon
the Queen went out, accompanied by Prince Leopold,
and attended by the Hon. Mrs. Gordon.
JUNE 3•
The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise and
Princess Beatrice, went out yesterday morning.
In the afternoon the Queen, accompanied by
Princess Beatrice and Prince Arthur, and attended
by the Duchess of Athole, drove out.

-0---
The Prince of Wales.

The Prince of Wales presided, on Saturday, at a
meeting of the Council of his Royal Highness, held
at the office of the Duchy of Cornwall, Buckingham-
gate, St. James's-park.
There were present the Lord Portman, Lord
Warden of the Stannaries ; Sir William John
Alexander, Attorney-General ; Colonel the Hon.
Sir Charles Beaumont Phipps, Receiver-General;
and Lieut.-General Knollys, Comptroller of the
Household of his royal highness.
Mr. Bateman, the secretary, attended as Clerk of
the Council.

The Prince of Wales rode on horseback in the
afternoon, attended by Lieut.-Colonel Keppel.
The Prince of Wales attended Divine service at
the Chapel Royal, St. James's, yesterday morning.
The communion service was read by the Rev. the
Sub-dean and the Rev. T. C. Haden.

Anthem, " Come, Holy Ghost," Attwood—sung
by Master Bristowe, Messrs. R. Barnby, Benson,
and Lewis Thomas.

Mr. Cooper presided at the organ.
The sermon was preached by the Ret. Dr. Jelf,
sub-almoner, from Acts, c. vii., v. 37, 38, 39.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge
honoured the Marquis and Marchioness of Donegan with
his company at dinner on Saturday evening. The follow-
ing were invited to meet his royal highness—Their Serene
Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Saxe-Weimar, the
Duke and Duchess of Manchester, the Earl of St. Germans,
the Earl and Countess of Clarendon, the Earl and Countess
of Westmorland, Lady Molesworth, Mr. and Lady Augusts
Sturt, Sir Hugh Rose, and Dr. Quin. Colonel Tyrwhitt Was
in waiting on his royal highness. _ _

His Highness Mustapha Pasha, attended by 3
numerous suite, has arrived at Claridge's Hotel, from
Paris.

The Countess Bernstorff will have a juvenile
party at Prussia House on Saturday afternoon, the loth
instant.

The Marquis and Marchioness San German°,
accompanied by the marquis's mother, arrived at their
residence in Chapel-street, last night, from Turin.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster
entertained a select family circle at dinner on Saturday at
Grosvenor House.
Count and Countess de Villamarina have arrived
at Love's Hotel, Albemarle-street, from Turin.

The Earl and Countess de Grey have left town
to pass the Whitsuntide recess at Studley Park, their seat
in Yorkshire.

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The Countess (Frances) Waldegrave and the
Right Hon. Chichester Fortescue, M.P., have left town for
Chewton, Somerset, for the Whitsuntide holidays.
Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston left tow"
on Saturday-for Brockett Hall, Herts.
The Right Hon. Sir W. G-. Hylton Joliffe, Bart.,
M.P., entertained a select party at Merstham during the
Epsom week. Among the guests were the Earl of DerbY,
the Earl and Countess of Bessborough, the Earl of Saud-
wich and Lady Emily Molitagu, Sir Henry and Lady
Sophia des Vceux, the Earl of Sefton, the Hon. Mrs. Lid:,
dell, Lord and Lady de Blaquiere, Mr. and Mrs. Edward
Birkbeck, Miss Carry, Mr. Cameron of Lochiel, Lord Gar"
lies, &c.
A marriage is arranged between Miss M. Blackett,
youngest daughter of Sir Edward Blaekett, Bart., and gr•
G. Egerton, eldest son of the late Rev. T. Egerton, and for-
merly of the Rifle Brigade.
Lord Brougham arrived at his residence in
Grafton-street on Friday evening, from Paris, in wilicb
capital the noble lord made a brief stay on his way hero
from Cannes. It will afford many of his friends some
gratification to learn that the noble and learned ex-Chan-
cellor is in good health. _ _

Lord Hotham had a dinner party on Saturday
at his residence in Lower Grosvenor-street.

The Lord Chief Justice entertained at dinner, 01
Friday last, their Serene Highnesses the Prince slid
Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar, the Duke and Duchess
of Cleveland, the Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricardei
Lord and Lady Egerton of Tatton, Lord and Lady Lyv;
den, Lord George Lennox, Lord Houghton, Sir James anu
Lady Matheson, Mr. and Miss Oswald, and Mr. Cockbury'