On that memorable and interesting occasion the
Rev. J. Uppadine of Hammersmith, the Rev. W. Giles of Chatham, &
the Rev. J. Griffin of London preached. The Sabbath School was established
1st April 1824. & the church formed by the Rev, W. Giles of
Eythorne in 1825. In 1838 one of the cottages was converted into
a vestry, & the minister's vestry added in the following year.
"Here Lord display thy saving powers, while temples stand and
men adore" 22nd May 1843 [which I take to be the age of
the manuscript, as it ends here.].
Some key Dates
for St. Peter site
There is a good record in the church archives of
the St. Peter's Street site's use for many centuries (many dates
are on a typewritten note). The complete key dates, as far as I
can get them, are as follows:
1643 - John Barton buys a property bounded by St. Peter's
Street and the Grey Friars from John Mannakee. Three buildings fronted
St. Peter's Street, one of which the family lived in and the other
[sic] let to tenants.
After ownership by the Gostling family it was bought by William
Cheavale who was a Wool Stapler and had a large Warehouse at the
rear of the residence.
1809 - the Church Trustees decided to buy
the property from his son, John. Joseph Hagell, whose brother owned
the neighbouring baker's at 50 St. Peter's Street, was the negotiator
for the church.
7th May 1811 - After a 'disastrous fire'
the site was eventually cleared and the stone laying carried out.
31 Dec 1811 - LICENSING:
The Canterbury Cathedral archives have a manuscript (reference appears
to be: DEb/H/A/173) which is a letter from church members asking
permission from the Archbishop of Canterbury to register the new
Chapel under the Toleration Act. This licensing was obligatory.
1st January 1812 - The very next day, the
new Chapel was opened, the congregation moving from the Chapel at
King Street. The total cost was £8000, 'an enormous sum
which crippled the Trustees for many years, and it was not until
1880 that the debt was finally cleared'.
1828 - Poplar trees (see picture)
were felled and a graveyard laid out at the front of the Chapel.
1851 - Attendances for the Chapel were over
1,000 on a Sunday during three services.
1903 - Gravestones were moved back against
the wall.
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