WOODBERRY DOWN BAPTIST CHURCH
190 Vartry Road
Postcode : N15 6HA
Location : TQ 32816 88027
Woodberry Down Baptist Church was built in 1882 to a design by architects by Bonella and Paull.
Postcode : N15 6HA
Location : TQ 32816 88027
Woodberry Down Baptist Church was built in 1882 to a design by architects by Bonella and Paull.
Description of the building
"The Chapel has been built, at a cost of £9,572 (according to plans prepared by Messrs. Paull and Bonella) by Messrs. Allen and Son, of Kilburn Park Road, and will accommodate upwards of 900 people. It measures 88ft. from front to back, and consists of a nave of that length and 29ft. wide, and a double transept on each side, separated from the nave by two wide and lofty stone arches borne a stone column. The cubical contents of the interior are very large, but the form and proportion are such that the acoustic results are said leave nothing to be desired. On the basement there is assembly room capable of seating 450 persons, besides class and lecture rooms. The school premises provide accommodation for 700 children ... " - - The Hackney and Kingsland Gazette, Friday 15 June 1883, p. 3.
The stone-laying ceremony
"The opening services in connection with the recently erected Woodberry Down Chapel Seven Sisters road, took place on Tuesday, under favourable auspices ... The memorial stone was laid on Tuesday, October l882, by the Rev. T. Vincent Tymms, of Downs Chapel, and president of the London Baptist Association, and thus the work of building the chapel has been completed within eight months. The opening services commenced at 10.30 when a prayer meeting was conducted by the Rev. W. R. Skerry, late of Bristol, who has been appointed to the pastorate of the new chapel. A sermon was preached at noon by the Rev. T. Vincent Tymms, and luncheon was afterwards served in the school-room, which was numerously attended. At the aftermeeting Mr. W. R. Rickett presided, supported by a number of the local ministers. Speeches wore made by the Rev. T. Vincent Tymms, Rev. J. Angus, D.D., Rev. S. O. Green. D.D., Rev. S. R. Aldridge, L.L.B., Rev. R. Vaughan Pryce, M.A., L.L.B., Rev. J. R. Wood, Rev. W. R. Skerry, Mr. Ogden (treasurer), Mr. Paull (architect), Mr. Morgan (of Bristol), and others. In the course of his observations. Dr. Angus traced the stages through which the Baptist Churches of London had passed since and prior to the era marked by the gifts of Sir Morton Peto. The Downs Church had certainly taken the most effective measures for spreading the Gospel in choosing a new district and building a chapel there. Mr. Ogden stated at the commencement of the meeting that £5,378 7s. was required to free the chapel from debt, but during the evening promises were received reducing this amount to about £4,000. A tea was afterwards partaken of in the schoolroom, and was followed by sermon in the chapel by the Rev. C. Clemance, D.D., of Camberwell. The weekly services will be commenced next Sunday, by the pastor, the Rev. R. Skerry. - The Hackney and Kingsland Gazette, Friday 15 June 1883, p. 3.
The name on the stone
Thomas Vincent Tymms (b. 1842)
The architects