Part 2

The above facts speak for themselves. That in the second year of its establishment upwards of ONE-THIRD of the whole poor population—and consequently a much larger proportion of the permanent and industrious part—should have been persuaded and encouraged and enabled, by the means of this Society, to lay up for themselves a winter provision of what is so essential to the comfort and health of their families, would demonstrate at once, even were this the only point of attention, and these the sole benefits caused to the parish, that neither have the Visitors been inactive, nor their exertions and the plans of the Society unproductive of valuable results. If these facts proved nothing more, they would at least prove this, that the respectable and industrious poor are willing and anxious to help themselves if encouraged to do so; that, unless when their ignorance has been insidiously imposed upon, they are desirous of considering the rich as their friends, and indeed look to them to give that encouragement, and that, if it be given, they will return the fullest and most desirable reward to their benefactors, by proving that their help has been of real benefit to them, not only in their outward circumstances, but also in their improved moral and intellectual tone of feeling and habit of life. These facts give an earnest that each succeeding year will continue to add materially to the efficiency of the Society, and to the amount of good produced through its means. The most difficult and most important step is secured; the CONFIDENCE OF THE POOR in the Visitors and in the Society. {19} And thus a foundation is established for a superstructure of operations, the fruit of which, under the Divine blessing, will assuredly be that of continually increasing advantage, temporal, moral, and spiritual; and whose effects will be found in the present and future happiness of both him that giveth and him that receiveth—of both Visited and Visitor.

Other POINTS OF CONGRATULATION which last year offered themselves to the Committee have this year not less of prominence.

The large number of BAPTISMS which was then exhibited, 100 above the ordinary average, has been in 1845 scarcely diminished. It is believed that very few above the age of mere infancy now remain who have not been baptized.

The TRIENNIAL CONFIRMATION which will in the present year (on the 9th of June) be held in Kensington Church will, there is good ground for believing, be attended by a large number of persons who through the exertions of the Visitors and the Clergy have been brought to feel an anxious desire to avail themselves of this sacred rite.

Few points of attention are of more importance than that of obtaining SITUATIONS or EMPLOYMENT by the Visitors for the poor in their respective districts. Whether they regard the removal of young persons from vicious associations to positions in private families where they may have not only the advantage of advice and direction in the duties of life, but also the forcible influence of moral and religious example; or whether they consider the benefit derived from providing openings of honest livelihood {20a} for those who perhaps have long been struggling against bitter distress and consequent urgent temptation; the Committee feel that it is impossible to overrate the importance of the subject. The instances which have been reported tend strongly to confirm their estimation of it, at the same time that they demonstrate the value of the assistance given by the Visitors in this respect. {20b}

The opening of a new NATIONAL SCHOOL for boys in the Gravel Pits will, it is hoped, have the effect of reducing the excessive pressure on the Town Schools; the fulness of which has hitherto placed a considerable difficulty in the way of the exertions of the Visitors and Clergy.

A somewhat similar difficulty has prevailed with respect to the inadequate extent of ACCOMMODATION at Kensington CHURCH as compared with the population. It is not easy or satisfactory to impress upon the poor the duty of public worship, except in the anticipation of a more proportionate amount of accommodation being before long provided.

The Visitors have been during the two years instrumental in circulating upwards of 2000 TRACTS: and the Committee have the greatest satisfaction in reporting that there is reason to know that of those families who are in a position to avail themselves of the use of the Holy Scriptures and of the Liturgy of the Church of England, very few are unprovided with both Bible and Prayer book. {21}

In order to afford means of enabling the Visitors to carry out more satisfactorily their endeavours to raise and improve the condition of the poor parishioners, a LOAN LIBRARY has been just established, in compliance with the fifteenth rule of the Society. But it being necessary to reserve a certain sum in hand to meet extraordinary calls upon the Treasurer, it has been found impossible to appropriate more than a very small and inadequate portion of the funds to this purpose. The Library has in consequence only been brought into action over a very limited number of districts. The Committee trust that this representation will produce a very considerable increase of DONATIONS for the ensuing year, so as to enable them to bring so valuable and important an institution to bear upon the whole parish.

In dosing their Report, the Committee are anxious to express their cordial THANKS to those MEDICAL GENTLEMEN whose attendance and advice at the Dispensary and attention to the wants of the poor at their homes, are productive of so much important benefit to them. It is impossible to speak too strongly of the advantage derived to the parish by their arduous and exemplary labours; which, though gratefully appreciated and acknowledged by the immediate recipients of the benefit, are perhaps not sufficiently, as they cannot be too well, known to the body of the parishioners.

And they desire to express most warmly the sense they have of the assiduous and successful exertions of the LADIES and GENTLEMEN who have taken the initiative in the work of charity as VISITORS of the poor. {22} Under discouragements and annoyances of no trifling description—against coldness and suspicion—in spite of fraud and imposture—they have yet persevered in the exercise of their privilege as members of the Church, in following the example of Its Divine Head, who “went about doing good.” The Committee trust that as these labours, and the operations of the Society in general, become year by year more effective, and their results more fully ripened, there will be found to have sprung up a more intimate connexion among the different classes of the community: one which, founded on an interchange of beneficence on the one hand and gratitude on the other, and supported and cemented on both by Christian sympathy and love, cannot fail in being productive of important advantages to the welfare of all concerned. If it be the ordinary duty of the Committee, while administering the funds at their disposal, to adopt such measures as shall enable the poorer classes to perceive and fulfil what is due from them in this interchange; it is _now_ their office to point out to the wealthier and educated classes, who may be anxious for the opportunity, how they may perform their part.

A blessing is promised in Scripture upon HIM THAT CONSIDERETH THE POOR. It is hoped, that every member of the Church who enjoys wealth, or even competence, will ‘consider’ conscientiously in what manner his exertions for the relief of indigence and the advancement of religious improvement may be most judiciously directed; what talents he possesses, not only of property, but of time, and influence, and connexion; and in what way those talents may be most beneficially and effectually applied. {23} It is hoped, that the necessary relation of Christian principles to active charity will, from year to year, be more generally and more practically acknowledged: that every one will learn to feel that for practice as well as principle of Christian love he is absolutely accountable: that it is therefore imperative upon him for the benefit of others, and at the same time pre-eminently for his own, to take a lively personal interest in concurrence and co-operation with the Clergy, in endeavouring to secure the temporal, moral, social, and spiritual welfare of those who from their position in rank and in neighbourhood are in a measure committed to his charge and care.

The Committee can scarcely be wrong in entertaining the belief, that were this personal co-operation effectually carried out, there would result, under the blessing of God, a far nearer approximation than now exists, to what every CHRISTIAN must anxiously and from his heart desire—UNITY IN CHURCH AND NATION “IN ONE HOLY BOND OF TRUTH AND PEACE, OF FAITH AND CHARITY.”

TREASURER’S REPORT.

The TREASURER, in presenting to the Donors and Subscribers the BALANCE SHEET for the past year, begs to call attention to the decrease in the number of both Donors and Subscribers. Although it was not to be anticipated that the former would be kept up to the same extent as in the first year of the establishment of the Society, when a large outlay was to be met, it was not unreasonable to expect, that both the number of the Subscribers, and the aggregate amount of their subscriptions, would have considerably increased as the operations of the Society, and the great benefits resulting therefrom, were more generally known. It is earnestly hoped that when the foregoing Report has been circulated through the parish, and the large amount of good that has been effected through the agency of the Society has been thereby brought under the notice of the inhabitants, its claims on public liberality will be better appreciated; and that no one who is blessed with the means will hesitate to contribute of his abundance, so as to enable the Society to carry out all those beneficial measures intended for the amelioration of the temporal and spiritual condition of his poorer and less favoured brethren, which were proposed at the formation of the Society, but from which it has been hitherto most reluctantly withheld by want of the requisite funds.

The Treasurer also begs to express his regret at the small amount collected in the ALMS BOXES at the Parish Church, in comparison with the number who attend the several services; it is gratifying, however, to observe that in one or two instances a larger amount has been deposited as a THANK OFFERING—examples which, it is hoped, may be frequently followed by those who have experienced any special blessings.

The Treasurer wishes it to be distinctly understood that he would thankfully receive DONATIONS or SUBSCRIPTIONS of however small an amount, as it is the wish of the Society to afford an opportunity to ALL CLASSES to assist, as far as their circumstances will permit, and each according to his power, in the furtherance of the great work of practical Christian charity.

_The Treasurer in Account with the Kensington District Visiting Society_.

SUBSCRIPTION ACCOUNT.

1845. £ s. d. £ s. d. Subscriptions 377 13 0 Deposits in Alms Boxes:— For January 1 17 4 February 2 7 3 March 3 1 9 April 1 13 6 May (including 9 17 3 Whitsunday) June 1 8 7 July (including a 6 0 9 Thank Offering on the recovery of a Child) August 1 15 3 September 5 12 7 October 1 17 1 November 1 16 0 December 2 7 4 39 14 8 The Vicar’s proportion of Collection at Church 4 15 2 Door, on Christmas Day Produce of Sale of Bibles and Prayer Books 3 15 6 Deposits received from 636 Depositors 267 8 1 Interest on Deposits in Savings’ Bank 2 14 9 Balance in hand on last Coal Account 5 0 Interest on amount in Savings’ Bank 2 17 0 Cash from Donation Fund, to meet DEFICIENCY 35 5 4 £734 8 6

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1845. £ s. d. £ s. d. District Grants for 43 9 0 January February 33 6 0 March 48 19 0 April 44 19 0 May 28 2 0 June 8 15 0 July, August, Sept., 28 6 0 October November 47 11 0 December 22 5 0 304 19 0 Paid Mr. Stanham for 121 tons 11½ cwt. of 170 4 2 Coals, delivered at 28s. Ditto Mr. Neate for 93 tons 3 cwt. at 28s. 130 9 4 Ditto Mr. Bailey for 11 tons 14 cwt. at 28s. 16 7 7 Returned to 55 Depositors having left the 8 0 8 parish, or having subscribed less than the value of 1 cwt. Expenses:— Books, Printing, 46 0 1 Stationery, &c. Collector 25 19 0 Sundries, including 14 19 2 use of Board Room, &c. On Coal Fund Account 6 4 0 Receivers of 11 5 6 Deposits on Coal acc. 104 7 9 £734 8 6

JOHN SHEPHARD, TREASURER, ALFRED WADDILOVE / GEORGE WARNER } AUDITORS.

9th February, 1846. Examined and found correct.

DONATION ACCOUNT.

1845. £ s. d. Balance in hand from last Account 94 6 7 Donations 41 6 1 £135 12 8

* * * * *

1845. £ s. d. Purchase of Books for a Loan Library 15 0 0 Cash to Subscription Account to meet 35 5 4 DEFICIENCY Balance in hand 85 7 4 £135 12 8

JOHN SHEPHARD, TREASURER.

ALFRED WADDILOVE / GEORGE WARNER } AUDITORS.

9th February, 1846. Examined and found correct.

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF STREETS, &c., INCLUDED IN THE DISTRICTS OF THE KENSINGTON DISTRICT VISITING SOCIETY.

*** _Members recommending any case for inquiry_, _are requested to state exactly the residence of the applicant_, _and the No. of the District from the following list_.

*** _Communications respecting persons resident in Streets_, _&c._, _not in this list_, _should be made to the Clergy of the respective portions of Kensington or Notting Hill_.

No. of the District. Adam and Eve Cottages, High Street 25 Adam and Eve Yard, High Street 25 Albert Square, Southend 17 Annis Place, Duke’s Lane 26

Ball’s Court, High Street 19 Barlow’s Cottages, Kensington Square 17 Bird’s Cottages, Duke’s Lane 26 Bird’s Cottages, Jennings’ Buildings 4 Brown’s Buildings, High Street 4 Bullingham Place 26

Campden Street, 1–10 32 Campden Street, 11–end 33 Chancellor’s Yard 25 Charles Place 15 Charles Street 12 Charles Street (Little) 15 Charles Street Cottages 15 Church Court, No. 2, 7, 9, 10 and Galleries 22 Church Court, No. 3, 4, 6, 8, 12 23 Church Lane 27 Church Street 27 Claremont Cottages 35 Cooke’s Lane 16 Cousins’ Cottages 36

Dark’s Cottages 4 Duckmanton Court 20 Duckmanton Yard 11 Duke’s Lane 26 Dulwich Court 26

Edge Place 36

Gardener’s Buildings 20 Gore Lane, West side, 1–20 1 Gore Lane, West side, 21–34 2 Gore Lane, West side, 35–47. East side 3

Haines’ Buildings 17 Holland Place 27 Holland Street 28 Hornton Mews 24 Hughes’ Cottages 19

Ivy Cottages, Gore Lane 4

James Street, North side, No. 1–4. East 12 side, 1–2 James Street, East side, No. 3–10. West 9 side, 4–10 James Street, No. 11–20 14 James Street, West side, No. 11–14, 21–24 13 James Street Mews 12 Jennings’ Buildings, &c. No. 1–23, 37–63 4 Jennings’ Buildings, &c. No. 24–36 5

Kensington Place 4 King Street, West side, No. 1–4 17 King Street, West side, No. 5–15, 1 18 King Street, East side, No. 16–24 19 Knibbs’ Cottages 25

Market Court 21

New Court, Jennings’ Buildings 4 Newland Street, East side 25

Palace Place, No. 8–14 7 Palace Place (remainder) 8 Peel Street, North side, No. 1–25 29 Peel Street, South side, No. 1–10, 71–75 31 Peel Street, South side, No. 11–14, 21–29, 30 34–51 Phillimore Mews 24 Playhouse Yard 4 Pratt’s Cottages, Jennings’ Buildings 4

Reservoir Cottages 36 Russell’s Gardens 10

Sharp’s Cottages, Jennings’ Buildings 4 Shephard’s Gardens 10 Somerset Yard 25 Southend 16

Tavern Yard 4 Thomas Place 4 Trafalgar Place 16

Wiple Place 27

Young Street 11

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS AND DONORS, _Corrected to December_ 31_st_, 1845.

*** _It is particularly requested that any error in the following list may be notified to the Treasurer or Secretaries_.

*** _Subscriptions and Donations may be paid either to the Treasurer_, _Secretaries_, _or Collector_.

_Subscriptions may be given in favour of any particular District_, _if desired_.

Donations. Subscriptions. £ _s._ _d._ £ _s._ _d._ HER MAJESTY THE 10 10 0 QUEEN H. R. H. THE 10 0 0 DUCHESS OF KENT H. R. H. THE 5 0 0 PRINCESS SOPHIA The Venerable 5 0 0 Archdeacon Sinclair, Vicar and President

Abercrombie, 3 3 0 Mr., 25, Kensington square Alton, Mr., 1 0 0 Palace gate Alexander, Mr., 5 0 0 15, Notting hill square Alexander, 1 1 0 Miss, 26, Hornton street Alston, Mr., 5, 1 1 0 High row Anonymous 8 0 0 Armstrong, 1 1 0 Mrs., 13, Earl’s terrace Auldjo, Mrs. T. 2 2 0 R., Noel House