New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-16
A HISTORIC LONDON CHURCH.
prntn The Ionnnn Echo-


The omniVorOus Metropolitan District Rail-
way has after long delays, last seized upon building
which many respects Is the most interesting centre OF
city NonconfOrmity and during the present week the
Kings Weigh House Chapel Is the scene OF series OF
gatherings somewhat akin to the ldeconsecraon services
condemned city churches. Kings Weigh House Chapel,
which It's origin h to wO Oh n ha the c al CLERGY To
in its origin at least represents that more moderate
ment by the folly OF the Caroline bishops Its first min
listers Samuel Slater aud Thomas kentish the In
who were among the elected Two Thousand. For
than a hundred years the church at the Weigh House
was at least nominay Presbyterian and whom at last
it Withdrew Its subscription to the Presbyterian Fund
was owing to the fact that 1t had remained orthodox
while the most OF the older Presbyterian churches had
become Arsn In Theology IL was not III about cen
tury ago that the Weigh House began TO hold dstin
The more influential of bodies obtained for time
accommodations in the halls OF the City Companies; the
in room the Kings Weigh House in Esstcheap the
Weigh House being place where goods arriving in the
prevent fraud In the reign OF James IL the church
consisted OF but seventeen members, and down TO
conformity in those days mddle-class institution.
which never dreamed OF appealing TO the people. To
ing influence Methodist revival for In 1879 chose
fer its minister John Clayton, young Lancashire man,
College at Trevecca. The congregation had to build q
new structure in 1905 which, though larger than their
former meeting place, was still but an upper room
warehouses.
It was to this building that Thomas Blnney, then
had become necessary TO build larger chapel The
time opportune for there had been great clearance
make the approaches TO new London bridge aud site
was obtained Fish street-hlll On the laying OF the
foundation stone, the young minister scandalzed
ciety by declaring that the Church of England had
stroyed souls than she had saved but 10 must
remembered that this at time when, out Of ten
thousand holders OF benefces nore than half
resident Such sharp sayings perhaps necessary In
the Church from the leTargy into which 1t
had sunk. For forty Mr. Binney remained rinis
OF the Weigh House. aud during the whole of that
time he was the distinguished representative of
Mono for itv IN he eft II hama
crowded by an audience " which any man might well
have been proud Strangers ocked there OF the
chief sights of LOndOn but he had gathered around him
a congregation chiefly .of business men, who could
thoroughly appreciate his Thoughtful and simple eo-
queDce. Mr. Binneys own personal relations with Aus
trsa led him TO take deep interest the colonies and
IL at the Weigh House that the Colonial Missionary
Society born More than the Church forth
from its ranks missionaries to heather lands and
the Weigh House became famous for the interest OF mis-
sionary valcdicory services In addition its other in
situations the Church planted and supported a large
ragged school in the very heart OF Racllf highway It's
phllanhropic activities worthy OF the who in
spred them; though in Mr. Bnney's later years the
Church necessarily suffered somewhat from the rresst-
ble centrifugal force which drives the middle class
ther and further from the centre OF London Some little
time before Mr. Binney retired from public life Mr..
(now DR.. Bevan, young Weshman fresh from college,
became his assistant The old man greatly attached
the young whom he used playfully TO call Timothy
and expected that he would succeed him In his work
but not long after Mr.. Bevan became the sole minister
he resigned, his being Mr.. william Braden for
promise who died not very long ago In the early
prime OF life, deeply regretted by all who knew him.
The future OF the Church, whose present minister
ssndison, ID Us yet uncertain.