Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume X.djvu/604

 598 LONDON ous denominations. The Greek merchants sus- tain a fine church in London Wall, near Fins- bury square, and the elegant chapel of the Rus- sian embassy is in Welbeck street, West End. The Jews have over 20 synagogues, and the number is constantly increasing. The " great synagogue," under the chief rabbi, is in Duke's place, in the City, and has had since 1870 a branch in Portland road, West End; the lat- ter is a rich and remarkable structure which cost over 24,000. There are altogether about 1,500 places of worship within the me- tropolitan limits, and nearly 2,500 including those in the outlying regions. Among the most ancient and interesting churches are the following: St. Bartholomew the Great, West Smithfield, dating from 1102, was restored 1865-'7. Opposite St. Bartholomew's gate is the site of the stake where the victims of in- tolerance perished during the reign of Queen Mary. St. Saviour's, Southwark, became a par- ish church under Henry VIII., and ranked next to Westminster abbey for its specimens of early English; but nothing remains of the ancient edifice excepting the choir and the Lady chapel, the restored building being of an inferior kind. It contains a monument of Gower, who found- ed a chantry and is buried here, as were Ed- mund, the -youngest brother of Shakespeare, Lawrence Fletcher, one of Shakespeare's asso- ciates, John Fletcher, Beaumont's associate, and Massinger. The Temple church, near Temple Bar, consists of the Round church and the choir, and was the place of worship of the knights templars. The choir is reserved for the stu- dents and benchers. The learned Selden is commemorated by a marble monument, and he and Oliver Goldsmith are buried here. St. Giles's, Cripplegate, one of the oldest churches, is the burial place of Milton, in whose honor it was restored in 1864. The 14 bells of the tower are celebrated for their chimes, which are played every three hours. St. Mary-le- Savoy, down the Savoy steps between the Strand and the river, one of the chapels royal, is used as a district church ; it was built under Henry VII. on the site of the palace of Savoy, originally erected for Peter, count of Savoy, uncle to Queen Eleanor, wife of Henry III. ; it contains monuments and tombs of eminent persons. It was partly burned in 1864, rebuilt in 1865, and temporarily closed in 1874, pend- ing its restoration. St. Paul's, Covent Gar- den, built by Inigo Jones, was burned in 1795, and subsequently restored by the architect Hardwick. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu was baptized, and Samuel Butler, the author of " Hudibras," was buried here. St. Mary-le- Bow, Oheapside, popularly known as "Bow church," has a modern steeple, 235 ft. high, which is one of Wren's masterpieces. The far-reaching sounds of the bells led to the say- ing of "children born within the sound of Bow bells." The register of Milton's bap- tism and other relics will be removed to this church in the event of the proposed demolition of All Hallows, Bread street, known as John Milton's church. St. Bride's or St. Bridget's, Fleet street, another of Wren's most celebrated achievements, has a fine steeple and elegant interior. The novelist Richardson is buried here. St. Stephen's, Walbrook, in the rear of the mansion house, is another monument of Wren's genius, especially the interior. It has a circular dome on an octagonal base resting on eight pillars. St. Magnus, London bridge, and St. James's, Piccadilly (one of the most fashionable churches), by the same architect, are likewise much admired, and especially the latter, which has an airy, elegant, and exten- sive interior, comfortably accommodating 2, 000 persons. The beautiful marble font is the work of Grinling Gibbon. St. Martin's-in-the- Fields (near Trafalgar square), built by Gibbs, is mainly remarkable for its fine portico. St. George's, Hanover square, the most fashion- able church for marriages in London, was built by John James as one of 50 new churches in the early half of the 18th century. The duke of Wellington attended this church, and was constantly in requisition for giving away brides. St. Stephen's, Rochester row, near Tothill Fields (Westminster), dating from 1849, is a fine specimen of modern Gothic architec- ture. Whitefield's chapel, near Tottenham Court road, built in 1756 under his auspices, is the place where he first preached to a large indoor congregation, and where his wife is buried. The cathedral-like " Apostolic church " (Irvingite) is in Gordon square. Spurgeon's mammoth tabernacle is near the Elephant and Castle tavern ; and a new tabernacle in Burdett road, Stepney, is a sort of foster child of the former, and calculated to accommodate 4,000 persons. The ritualistic All Saints' church, Margaret street, Regent street, is a master- piece of modern medievalism, of which Dr. Pusey laid the foundation stone in 1850, and which was consecrated in 1859 ; it cost 100,- 000, of which the architect Butterfield con- tributed 60,000, a banker gave 30,000, and Mr. Beresford Hope 10,000 ; and the marquis of Sligo presented the marble font and baptis- tery. Rowland Hill's or Surrey chapel, Black- friars road, was opened in 1783, and the Rev. Mr. Hill, one of Whitefield's followers, was ite first pastor for 50 years. The present incum- bent, the Rev. Newman Hall, had the foun- dation stone of Christ church, Lambeth, laid June 26, 1873, for the removal of his congre- gation. The old and popular brick parish church of Kensington, where Macaulay had a pew while residing at Holly lodge, was pulled down in 1874 to make room for a new and ele- gant building by the architect G. G. Scott, in the "late first pointed style," with a lofty spire. Among the noteworthy new churches are the cruciform Smithfield martyrs' memorial church, St. John street, West Smithfield, with a towe^r 120 ft. high, and sculptured reliefs in commemoration of the martyrs of Smithfield during the persecutions under Mary ; St. Phil-