Another new church for London!—just now finished, and about to be opened—affords an illustration for our columns, at once novel and picturesque. The site chosen is one which has felt the full benefit of modern improvements. Not very many years ago St. Martin-le-Grand had little to recommend it to the eye—now it is surrounded by fine buildings, and forms one of the choicest openings in the tortuous monotony of London bricks and mortar. We have gorgeous Hall of the rich Goldsmiths—a first-rate edifice whose here one of our best Grecian buildings, the Post-office; next the beauties are half hidden by its position; then that most magnificent of caravanserais, with the most un-euphonious of titles, the Bull and Mouth; next, looming mightily above surrounding objects, the dome of St. Paul’s, and last and least the small, but picturesque chapel of the French Protestants, to which we now introduce our readers. In a few months a new street, in a line from Lad-lane, is to open upon the Post-office; and thus altogether, this petite chapel has been placed in a position where its pretensions run no risk of being overlooked.
The old boast that England is the land of freedom has often met a heartfelt response from the natives of other countries, and the religious as well as political refugee has for centuries felt the warm sincerity of English hospitality. This very church is token and evidence of one bright instance. It is now nearly three hundred years since Edward the Sixth granted to divers “strangers fled here for the sake of religion,” in addition to other benefits, a building in Threadneedle-street, to be used as a Protestant church. Close by were other ecclesiastical buildings:—the remains of a convent of Augustines, in whose precincts the tombs of many old nobles, and of most of the baronets slain in Barnet field, in 1471, then stood. The place of worship thus given, in 1550, has ever since remained to the use of the successors of those to whom it was first granted. Until recently, the French Protestants continued in Threadneedle-street; their church being an old structure, with few architectural pretensions. This having been demolished, they have removed their place of worship to St. Martin-le-Grand, erecting the building which forms the subject of our cut. The architect, Mr. Owen, has succeeded in completing a very perfect, though small, pointed Gothic chapel, ingeniously rendering the minister’s house-which adjoins the scene of his spiritual labours-subservient to the general effect. The interior, with its lancet windows, tall roof, and appropriate pulpit, is well managed, considering the confined space the artist had to work in. The cost has been £5000, and the public will now very soon have an opportunity of judging how wisely it has been expended, as the church will shortly be opened for divine service.
The Illustrated London News, London, England, Week Ending December 10, 1842
