IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): LMA/4404
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: CHELSEA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, BELGRAVE
Date(s): 1845-1945
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 0.93 linear meters
Name of creator(s): Presbyterian Church of England
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
In 1805 part of Ranelagh House, Chelsea, was hired out by a group of Christians concerned about the 'godlessness' of the local area. They began teaching a Sunday School and, after this proved a success, began adult services with visiting preachers of various denominations. In 1814 the congregation gained a permanent minister who was a Calvinistic Methodist.
In 1818 expanding membership made it necessary to move and a chapel was built on Lower George Street, called the Ranelagh Chapel. In 1845, on the death of the Methodist minister, the church joined the English Presbyterian Church and was renamed Ranelagh Presbyterian Church. The lease on the Lower George Street chapel expired in 1866 and the church merged with a Presbyterian Mission in West Halkin Street, Belgrave Square. The name Belgrave Presbyterian Church was adopted. The church was rebuilt in 1881. In 1923 the church moved to premises in Emperor's Gate, Kensington.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Records of Ranelagh Chapel, later Belgrave Presbyterian Church, including Court of Session minute books, 1845-1922 (including history of the chapel to 1905); Deacon's Court minute books, 1847-1922; minute book of the Trustees of Ranelagh Chapel, 1817-1828; Stewart Memorial Mission minute book, 1883-1945, including annual reports and newspaper cuttings relating to the Mission; minute book of the Presbyterian Fellowship, 1913-1917; annual reports, 1866-1920; Communicants' roll books, 1851-1911; register of baptisms for Ranelagh Chapel, 1838-1844; register of baptisms, 1845-1922 and visitation schedule for South Kensington, with related notes and correspondence, 1927.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
Records relating to meetings LMA/4404/A, and registers and church records LMA/4404/B.
Conditions governing access:
Available for general access.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copyright: Depositor
Physical characteristics:
Fit
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Accruals:
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Deposited by the United Reformed Church (URC) History Society in 2001 (B01/024).
ALLIED MATERIALS
Existence and location of originals:
Existence and location of copies:
Related material:
See LMA/4303/E for records of the Belgrave Presbyterian Church Young Men's Association.
Publication note:
Shield, G. C. W. Jubilee of Belgrave Presbyterian Church, West Halkin Street, Belgrave Square. An historical account of the congregation, schools and mission, 1845-95 (London: 1896).
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note:
Date(s) of descriptions: January to March 2009