Minute book

These minutes begin with the record of the first meeting of the committee formed to initiate the new church; the committee met at the Bellevue Hotel on 10 March 1877. While not mentioning by name the church and vicar of St. Mary's and its Tractarian practices, the committee set out the purpose of the proposed new church: to build a church 'for the performance of the services of the Established Church of England in a plain and simple manner free from all party spirit and practices and under a suitable minister'. (f1)

The minutes include the following items:-

f.1. Confirmation of the membership of the committee; John Whitehead elected chairman; formation of a fund, 10 March 1877

f.2-3. Search for a suitable site; Bishop of Chichester [Richard Durnford] to be kept informed of plans, 17, 24 March 1877

f.4. agreement to build on Cray Cottage site, acquired at a rental of 5 p.a. for a 23 - year lease; discussion on design of the building for which the architect selected, William White of Wimpole Street, London, would be asked to submit plans, 7 April 1877

f.5v. Mr. White's plan considered: a nave seating 220 people at a cost of 550-600 with the possible addition of an aisle later, 21 April 1877

ff.6-8. discussion of builder's (Bushby) estimate, of finance and possible Bank loans, etc. 28 April, 5, 12 May, 2 June 1877

f.8. note of correspondence with the Bishop regarding "a suitable minister", 2 June 1877

ff.8v-9v. discussion of building details, insurance, seating - decision to have benches, 16 June 1877

ff.10-11. the minister appointed, The Rev. Arthur S. Thompson, was present; report of a grant from the Incorporated Church Building Society; discussion on fixtures and furnishings; the church's dedication to be St. John the Evangelist; the Bishop to be invited to open it in August, 7 July 1877

f.11. plans to buy an American organ, 14 July 1877

ff.12v-13. Mr. Thompson's stipend to be paid from 1 July; discussion and reports concerning furnishings, laying of gas pipes, gas lamps etc., 21 July 1877

ff.13v-15. list of items ordered including a bell, a font of Caen stone on an alabaster pillar, an organ; notification of a gift of ground for an entrance on Surrey Street; agreement to give an organist a three-month trial, to prepare circulars announcing the opening etc, 28 July 1877

f.15v. appointment of a verger, 4 August 1877

f.16. details of order of service and The Rev. Arthur S. Thompson's licensing to be held on 5 August - meeting of 4 August 1877

ff.16v-18. decisions on appropriation of seats to subscribers to the "Sustentation Fund" 22 August 1877; settlement of bills, etc., 15, 29 September 1877

ff.18-19. reports of problems relating to weather-proofing of the West end, 5 November, 31 December 1877

ff.19v-20v. discussion of matters concerning the fabric, ventilation etc., 24 June 1878, 11 August, 13 October 1879

f.20v. official resignation of Mr. Thompson who was being moved to Arundel, 31 October 1879

f.21. agreement to submit to the Bishop the name of The Rev. Olinthus J. Vignoles, 17 November 1879; decisions about insuring the church, 19 November 1879

f.21v. record of appreciation of Mr. Thompson 22 November 1879

f.22v. memoranda relating to the licensing of Mr. Vignoles on 3 January, and to his first service on 4 January, 1880; minutes of first meeting of the Trustees at Mr. Vignoles' house (St. John's Norfolk Road), with list of Trustees, appointment of John Whitehead as chairman, election of church officers, 2 February 1880

f.23. printed appeal to raise funds for the building of a South aisle, 15 March 1880

f.24. meeting with the architect William White instructing him to prepare plans and specification for an aisle, 29 March 1880

ff.24v-. appointment of a Committee of Management to consist of the 25 Trustees, the church officers, and the minister; acceptance of Mr. White's plans, and of the estimate; matters concerning a right of way for the new North entrance, 10 May 1880

ff.25v-26. decision to print a circular about the re-opening of the church on 13 June; arrangements regarding seats, pulpit, reading desk agreed, and purchase of a lectern; decision to enclose the new church room, 7 June 1880

ff.26v-27. minutes concerning the re-opening; decision to print the the Bishop's sermon; cutting about the event dated 19 June, describing the Trustees' chairman, John Whitehead, as also chairman of the Local Board of Health; new insurance policy, 28 June 1880

f.27. announcement by Mr. Whitehead that he had "purchased from the Trustees of Mr.C.F. Hardwick's Estate the reversion of the lease of the ground (including the new North entrance) which forms the site of St. John's Church", 28 June 1880

ff.27v-30v. meetings concerned with business matters, the accounts, etc., 9, 16, August, 22 November, 13 December 1880

ff.30v-33v. meetings concerned with the fabric (problems of damp), the organ, and finance, 20 March, 6 August, 8 October, 27 December, 1881

ff.34,37v,39v. discussion on whether to invite the congregation to attend the end of the Easter meeting to consider matters of interest; further discussion with absent Trustees was felt to be necessary before a decision could be made, 13 March 1882; but a year later it was decided to have an annual meeting of the congregation, to appoint officers and to discuss matters of worship, etc., 2 April 1883; report on the first of these annual meetings, 15 August 1883

ff.35-37v. business matters, passing of accounts, etc., 10 April, 10, 17 July, 30 October, 30 December 1882

ff.39v-40. report on the 1884 meeting of the congregation, and on finance etc., 9 September 1884