A New Chapel
It was Mr James’s invincible conviction that the present Carr’s Lane Chapel is the perfection of chapel architecture. Those who are familiar with the place will remember that behind the pulpit there is a row of columns, on which it would not be safe to invite Mr Ruskin’s criticism. These columns were Mr James’s delight; and he seldom passed out of the front entrance, after the Sunday-evening service, without turning round, just as he reached the door, to look at them with fond admiration, often exclaiming with characteristic vigour, “Well, there ’s no place in the denomination like it!” Although it has neither graceful spire, nor majestic arches, nor windows glowing with sacred legends, its real merits are considerable. It holds seventeen hundred and fifty or eighteen hundred persons, every one of whom may see the minister, and a voice of very moderate power may be heard in every corner. The exterior is heavy and sombre, but the interior filled with a crowded congregation is impressive and even grand. Mr James gives the following account of its erection: —
.Autobio- After much private conversation and deliberation among the giaiihicai. trustees, and much cordial feeling in reference to the project, it was resolved to call the congregation together and ascertain their determination on the subject. Some few friends had promised to give specified suras of considerable amouut. I Autobiotook the lead. I was possessed of a tolerably good income, though not above half what I was supposed to have, for the whole, arising both from my wife’s property and my own salary at that time, did not exceed £600 a-year. I have ever considered it a very solemn obligation upon ministers of any wealth, to be patterns to their people in liberality as well as everything else. I am at the present time grieved and astonished at the want of this grace in many of our ministers who abound in wealth; some of them with none or few children, yet doling out their gifts with a grudging and niggardly hand, as if the official function of preaching on liberality dispensed theiu from the personal performance of the duty. My people have been generous almost to profusion; and I account for this, though it may savour of boasting to affirm it, on the great principle on which I have acted. My admonition has ever been, “Only follow, am willing to lead;” and they have nobly acted upon this dii-ection. On Christmas day, we met in the schoolroom to consider and determine upon the project of building a new )lace. We had previously resolved, that unless a sum of was promised at that meeting, the scheme must be abandoned. To our great joy, more than £4000 were entered upon the lists. It was a good Christmas day’s work, though my domestic affairs were then very gloomy, as my dear wife was drawing near her end. There is a great deal in the circumstances of time and place, as well as principle, that has to do with the exercise of liberality. You must, if you wish to succeed, in some measure consult these, and seize the opportunity when the benevolent and kindly feelings are likely to have full and fair play. On Christmas day people are usually in good temper, families are about to enjoy a season of affectionate intercourse, and it is therefore a very good time to appeal to them for money, and to draw forth their benevolent sympathies. Since that Christmas meeting to determine on the erection of the chapel was so successful, we have considered Christmas day sacred to the cause of Christian charity.
The chapel was opened in August 1820, and it was immediately
LIFE OF JOHN ANGEIX JAMES.
Aiitobio- evident we had not too soon erected it, nor had built too large a
graphical,
place, for though it seated eighteen hundred persons, it was soon filled.
Not long after it was opened, an incident occurred which might have been attended with very appalling circumstances, and which placed me for several hours in a very painful situation. At the annual meeting of the Missionary Society, the abandoned idols which had lately been imported from the islands of the South Seas were exhibited on the platform in front of the pulpit. As the clock gallery was the most favourable place to gain a view of them, this was crowded to excess. After the business had proceeded for about an hour and a half, I received a pencil note to this eflfect: — “By all means, stop the clapping of hands and stamjiing of feet. The gallery shakes under us. I have already heard two distinct cracks.” This was signed by a young architect. Upon the receipt of this note, I was thrown into a most dreadful dilemma. If I gave the alarm, the mischief by the sudden rising and rush of the people would in all probability be done; and if I said nothing and the gallery should fall, I should be blamed for knowing the state of the case and not giving notice of it. We did stop the clapping, and the business went on. For two hours was I kept in this agony of suspense and dread. Happily, the meeting ended without any accident. Upon examination, it was found that we had been preserved from an appalling catastrophe by an interposition of Providence, little less than miraculous; for the two middle beams that support the gallery were found cracked quite through. And we had the mortification to see the gallery of our new place of worship shored lip by a row of props; the mortification, however, was lost in the joy and gratitude we felt for our deliverance — for had the gallery fallen, scores, if not hundreds, must certainly have been killed.
After the opening of the new place, things went on for many years in an even kind of prosperity. The chapel was filled, the church increased, and the sun of prosperity shone upon us with cloudless splendour.