King's Weigh House
Encyclopedia
Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile
The Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile is the cathedral of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Apostolic Exarchate in Great Britain. Though independent from the authority of the Latin Rite hierarchy in England and Wales, and instead under the jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Catholic apostolic exarch ,...
and was formerly the name of a Congregational Church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
History
It was formed around 1695 when Thomas ReynoldsThomas Reynolds
Thomas Reynolds was the fifth Premier of South Australia, serving from 9 May 1860 to 8 October 1861.He was born in England in 1818, and on leaving school had experience in the grocery business. He came to South Australia in 1840 as an early colonist at the invitation of his brother, who had a...
was called as minister. In 1697 the congregation built a meeting house over the King's Weigh House in Little Eastcheap
Eastcheap
Eastcheap is a street in the City of London. Its name derives from cheap, market, with the prefix "East" distinguishing it from the other former City of London market of Westcheap . In medieval times Eastcheap was the City's main meat market, with butchers' stalls lining both sides of the street...
, and from this home the church took its name. The King's Weigh House was where "Merchant Strangers" were required to have their goods weighed so that customs duties could be assessed, and was rebuilt after the Fire of London.
Reynolds ministered until 1727, then James Wood, 1727–42; William Langford, 1742–75; Samuel Wilton, 1776–1778; and John Clayton 1778-1826. Thomas Binney
Thomas Binney
The Rev. Dr. Thomas Binney was an English Congregationalist divine of the 19th century, popularly known as the 'Archbishop of Nonconformity'...
, 1829–69, was one of the notable Congregational ministers of the nineteenth century. During Binney's
Thomas Binney
The Rev. Dr. Thomas Binney was an English Congregationalist divine of the 19th century, popularly known as the 'Archbishop of Nonconformity'...
time the Weigh House site was required for widening the approaches to London Bridge
London Bridge
London Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, connecting the City of London and Southwark, in central London. Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge, it forms the western end of the Pool of London...
. In 1833-4 a new building in Fish Street Hill designed by William Tate and seating 1000 people was erected. Prominent members during this period included Samuel Morley
Samuel Morley
Samuel Morley may refer to:*Samuel Morley , recipient of the Victoria Cross*Samuel Morley , British Member of Parliament and philanthropist*Sam Morley , full name Samuel Robertson Morley, American football player...
and George Williams who founded the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
in 1844.
Binney
Thomas Binney
The Rev. Dr. Thomas Binney was an English Congregationalist divine of the 19th century, popularly known as the 'Archbishop of Nonconformity'...
was succeeded by William Braden, then Alexander Sandison, 1880-1901. In 1882 the church site was compulsorily purchased by the Metropolitan Railway
Metropolitan railway
Metropolitan Railway can refer to:* Metropolitan line, part of the London Underground* Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway to be built in London...
. By now many members lived in the suburbs and there was less need to relocate in the City. The Duke of Westminster
Duke of Westminster
The title Duke of Westminster was created by Queen Victoria in 1874 and bestowed upon Hugh Grosvenor, 3rd Marquess of Westminster. The current holder of the title is Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster....
offered a site in Mayfair
Mayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
, part of which was occupied by a small Congregational church in Robert [now Weigh House] Street. The offer was accepted and in 1891 the new building in Duke Street, designed by Alfred Waterhouse
Alfred Waterhouse
Alfred Waterhouse was a British architect, particularly associated with the Victorian Gothic Revival architecture. He is perhaps best known for his design for the Natural History Museum in London, and Manchester Town Hall, although he also built a wide variety of other buildings throughout the...
was opened. It cost £30,000.
Sandison was succeeded by John Hunter, 1901-4, F.A. Russell, then E.W. Lewis. The next minister Dr W.E. Orchard ministered from 1914. During his pastorate the style of worship became increasing Catholic, and after Orchard's resignation in 1932, he joined the Catholic Church. Notable is the fact that in 1917 Claud and Constance Coltman
Constance Coltman
Constance Coltman was one of the first women ordained to Christian ministry in Britain, when she was ordained by the Congregational Union of England and Wales at the King's Weigh House , London, on 17 September 1917. Her husband, Claud Coltman, was ordained alongside her, the day before their...
were ordained as assistant ministers, the latter being a member of the church before training at Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Of the colleges that accept both undergraduate and graduate students Mansfield College is one of the smallest, comprising approximately 210 undergraduates, 130 graduates, 35 visiting students and 50...
and the first woman to be ordained in a mainstream English denomination.
The next years were ones of decline. On 20 October 1940 a bomb fell on the chancel during a communion service, killing the minister's wife and injuring one other. The building was requisitioned as a fire watching centre and rest centre. In 1945 22 members decided to revive the work and appointed W.J.E. Jeffery as minister, with assistance from Claud and Constance Coltman. After war damage reinstatement the building was formally rededicated in 1953.
In 1956 Daniel Jenkins was appointed as minister with the aim of providing a distinctive mission within central London but the work did not develop as hoped. In 1962 Jenkins accepted the invitation to become the first chaplain of the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
. Roger Tomes was appointed as minister with aim of guiding the small Weigh House congregation towards union with another church. Following friendly discussions with Whitefield Memorial Church, Tottenham Court Road
Whitefield's Tabernacle, Tottenham Court Road
Whitefield's Tabernacle, Tottenham Court Road, a church in London, England; also called Tottenham Court Road Chapel, was built in 1756 for George Whitefield. It was enlarged in 1759...
, separate services at the Weigh House ended in July 1965. In March 1966 the decision was taken to formally disband the church and dispose of the building. It is now the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile
Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile
The Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile is the cathedral of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Apostolic Exarchate in Great Britain. Though independent from the authority of the Latin Rite hierarchy in England and Wales, and instead under the jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Catholic apostolic exarch ,...
Eastcheap building
51.510519°N 0.084165°W16 Eastcheap is now occupied by Citibank. A plaque on the frontage commemorates the previous existence of the church.
Fish Street Hill building
51.509777°N 0.086222°WThis was the church from 1834 to 1888. The building was acquired by compulsory purchase by the railway company. It is now an exit of the Monument tube station.