WHITEFIELD TABERNACLE
Description of the building
Red brick with stone dressings
The stones
The foundation stone records the name of Montagu Holmes, not, as should be, Montague Holmes. The stone recording the names of the architects was clearly designed to include also the name of the builder, but for some reason this was not done. There are two individuals with the name Charles Fleming Williams involved in the design and foundation stone laying ceremony. It is thought that Charles Lionel Fleming Williams was the joint architect with J.S.C. Mummery, whereas the Reverend who spoke at the ceremony was Charles Fleming Williams.
The stone-laying ceremony
"On Saturday afternoon a very interesting function took place at Alexandra-park, viz., the laying of the foundation stone of a new Whitefield's Tabernacle. The site is at the rear of Alexandra Palace, at the junction Alexandra Park-road and Victoria-road. Saturday’s function forms interesting link with the past, as the new Congregational church will be the continuation the movement which was inaugurated on April 29, 1739, by the celebrated preacher George Whitefield in Moorfields, the resort of the vicious and depraved in London in those far-off days. Whitefield erected a wooden structure in Moorfields, and although it was intended that the first tabernacle should be temporary affair, yet it did duty for twelve years, when, on the advice of Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, a permanent structure was erected. From this, of course, sprang other "tabernacles,” not the least historic being that in Tottenham Court-road. The first brick of this permanent structure was laid on March 1, 1753. It may be said that Moorfields was the birthplace of Methodism, and from this centre radiated that spiritual influence which has spread over a great part of the world—at least, wherever the English tongue is spoken—and has supplied intrepid missionaries to many heathen lands. But the City of London has been denuded of its resident population, factories, warehouses, and offices have forced the population gradually outwards, and of worship became deserted on the Sabbath-day, Whitefield's Tabernacle sharing the fate of many other sacred edifices, both Anglican and Nonconformist, and the tabernacle is to be sold. With the proceeds the Congregational Union will pursue their work in other districts, and part of this money is allocated for the purchase of the site at Alexandra-park and the building up of a hall which will seat 500 persons. The memorial-stone was laid by Mr. Montague Holmes, chairman of the Congregational Union, with a silver trowel, the present of the architect. Mr. George Hazeltine read several letters of apology from gentlemen unable to be present, and amongst them one from the Rev. W. New land, Claremont-hall, Pentonville-road, who said he was accompanying an excursion from Claremont to Pinner. He wished the cause of Alexandra-park every success, and referred to his early connection with the tabernacle at Finsbury. Mr. Hazeltine then made a statement to the effect that the Congregational Union of London had some time ago decided to sell the Finsbury Tabernacle. But the building itself had no value, and they could only be compensated for the site value, which was calculated at about £ll,000. Of that sum £2,000 would allocated to the Congregational Union of London for general work, and allowing for expenses of sale, &c.. £500, there remained a sum of £8,500. It was decided that one-third of this amount should kept for Sunday-school and other religious work in Finsbury, and two-thirds for the work in Alexandra-park. They had, therefore, £5,500 allocated them. The site at Alexandra-park had cost £1,250, and building contract was £4,094, but what with extras, which they must expect, and the furnishing, which would come to £400, the whole of that amount would swallowed up, and, of course, there was the church to follow in due course. He might mention. too, that the Finsbury Tabernacle had not yet been sold, but the London Congregational Union had advanced the money. The Rev. LL. H. Parsons gave a short ad dealing with career of the Rev. George Whitefield. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. C. Fleming Williams and other gentlemen, and a collection towards the building fund was made." - Islington Gazette and North London Tribune, 1 July 1907, p. 5.
The name on the stone
Montague [not Montagu] Holmes (c. 1852-1919). Estate agent. Alderman and J.P. , a life-long Congregationalist. Resident of Marylebone. Chairman of the London Congregationalist Union. Obituary : The Marylebone Mercury and West London Gazette, 26 July 1919, p. 7.
The architects
John Charles Stephen Mummery (1862-1949) was born in Iver, Buckinghamshire. Chief assistant to Rowland Plumbe (1838-1919), architect of the Noel Park Estate. Along with Charles Lionel Fleming-Williams he was taken into partnership by Plumbe. Continued the practice on Plumbe's death as Rowland Plumbe & Partners until 1933. During his professional career as architect and surveyor, Mummery lived at 85 Pellatt Grove, Wood Green. He was appointed architect to the Edmonton Board of Guardians in 1910, and served as architect to the Tottenham Burial Board. He was the architect of the Wood Green Unitarian Church, Newnham Road (c.1901), where his father the Rev. John Stephen Mummery (1825-1910) was the pastor. Apart from his professional life, Mummery was an expert photographer, a master in the gum-bicromate printing process. He was a member of the North Middlesex Photographic Society, and served as President of the Royal Photographic Society for three years between 1907-1909. A keen angler, Mummery was a member of the Red Spinner Angling Society in Cheshunt. In his later years Mummery retired to Bournemouth where he died. Obituary: RIBA Journal, vol. 56, 1949, p. 244. J.C.S. Mummery's brother, Horace Augustus Mummery (1867-1951), was a landscape artist, examples of whose work may be found at Bruce Castle Museum.
Charles Lionel Fleming Williams (1879-1919). Architect taken in partnership by Rowland Plumbe along with John Charles Stephen Mummery. Currently not known the full nature of the professional relationship with Mummery. Architect of 1 Wildwood Rise, Hampstead Garden Suburb. Obituary : RIBA Journal, vol. 26, Apr 1919, p. 141.
It is probable that Mummery and Fleming Williams were appointed architects for the Alexandra Park Road Whitefield Tabernacle because of their connection to Rowland Plumbe, who was the architect responsible for the design of the Whitefield Tabernacle (1899) in Tottenham Court Road.