m. .--f :,^- L I G) RARY OF THE UN IVERSITY or ILLINOIS -vf- THE SCHEME OF %\}i "C|itr4 Pmw," AS ORIGINATED TUE LATE niGIIT HONBLE. SIR ROBERT PHILLIMORE, 7 WO Letters, reprinted from The " Guardian^ 1865. '~Y HIGGS. PRINTER, HENLEV. I LETTER I. THE CHURCH HOUSE From " The Guardian," July 12, 1865. ^ §omt far t^c ffilnirr^ Sanctum. To the. Ed/for of The Gnartllan. Sir, The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel is compelled to change its domicile. This is not on the whole to be regretted, even with reference to the interests of that Society alone. It has for some time been very generally felt that the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel ought not to be unprovided with a decent Chapel of its own, in which daily service can be celebrated, as well as the especial prayers of the Society which inaugurate and close its meetings, read. But surely this occasion offers an opportunity for a scheme of much more extensive usefuhiess. Would it not be a great advantage in every respect — economy of resources included — that all the most important Metropolitan Church Societies should be in one place, if possible under one roof, — all courts in one court, with one chapel, one room for meetings, &c., common to all r It will, I think, be plain to any per- son who will carefully considt r the subject, that a contrary system wastes the resources and impairs the efficacy of these Societies. We have the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, at one end, the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, at another end, of London; between which extremeties lurk quite unknown to many the Church Building and the Additional Curates' Societies. There is moreover the great Society tor National Education, to '■' '--A^ say nothing of Sion College, which is capable of being made far more effec- tive than it is at present. Each of these Societies have sepa- rate houses, separate rates, taxes, and separate rents to pay. If they could all be brought into one building, or even into one court with separate buildings, with one room of adequate dimensions for all meetings of all the Societies, much, very much, I am satis- fied, would be gained in convenience, in economy, in furtherance of the ends of each Society, and of the general interests of the Church. There is really no reason whatever why such a building or Court should not be architecturally worthy of our Church. And it is most unwise and inexpedient to undervalue, as we are very apt to do, the advantage of ex- ternal attraction. It is high time that the Church ceased to hide her valuable auxiliary societies in holes and corners as if she were ashamed of them. There are many other incidental advantages which would flow from such a scheme as I propose which will suggest them- selves to many minds, but which I will not now dwell upon. I entertain a confident hope that funds would not be wanting for the execution of such a scheme, wisely propounded and heartily undertaken. Some of the Societies would of course contribute largely themselves, and I firmly believe subscriptions to a very large amount would be forthcoming, if the plan combined architectural beauty ■with practical usefulness. ROBERT PHILLIAIORE 5, Arlington Street, July ^, 1865. LETTER II. ^ ftlnirrlj ^ow^t iox gclifliaufi Sorulics From '-The Guardian," Oct. 25, 1865. Sir, — Since you inserted a letter of mine suggesting the erection of what has been called a " Church House," for con- centrating the offices and committee rooms of the religious Societies of the English Church, I have received several letters offering sympathy and sugges- tion in aid of the scheme I proposed. Will you be good enough to give space for one proposal which is not wholly without interest and importance : The site around the Chapel Royal, Savoy Street, Strand, is suggested as one of the most available of any available spots in the Western district of London. 6 Some of the advantages of this site may be briefly summed up : — (i.) — The ground could in all likeli- hood be purchased at a cheaper rate than any equally central plot. There is even hope that the Queen would be willing to grant upon easy terms so much of the space as belongs to Her Majesty's Duchy of Lancaster. (2.j — The proposed site is as nearly as possible in the centre of London, while the projected monster Station which is to concentrate all the Metropolitan termini at or near Charing Cross, will give a centre for suburban and county members. (3.) — The Thames Embankment will in a few months open the southern side of the Savoy Pre- cinct to the river, and in three or four years any building now erected upon the Savoy site will have a splendid frontage and free access to the river causeway. (4.) — The traditional interest and im- portance of the Savoy Precinct must be well known to }'0ur readers, and with many will have some weight in deciding the site of a " Church House," (5.) — Part of my original proposal concerned the need w^hich every one deeply feels, of a provision for daily w^orship in connec- tion with the work of religious Societies. This necessity wnll be satisfied abundantly and almost gratuitously by the adoption of the proposed site. The Savoy Chapel is hand- somely endow^ed by the Queen with all needful requirements for Divine Service. These would doubtless be gladly transferred on week-days at least, to the uses of the proposed " House.'" 8 It is not in my power to devote much time to correspondence upon this matter, but I shall be very glad to receive further suggestions in respect of the proposed scheme or of the par- ticular part of it with which this letter is concerned. Above all, I shall be glad to receive the names of members of any of our religious Societies who would be will- ing to attend a preliminary meeting for the consideration of the scheme in all its details. ROBERT PHILLIMORE. ^"0^-^ ^^}^ ^^^^mg'