Collection GB 0074 P82/ALB - SAINT ALBAN THE MARTYR, HOLBORN: BROOKE STREET, CAMDEN

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 P82/ALB

Title

SAINT ALBAN THE MARTYR, HOLBORN: BROOKE STREET, CAMDEN

Date(s)

  • 1848-1949 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

2.07 linear metres

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The church of Saint Alban the Martyr is situated on Baldwin Gardens, off Grays Inn Road. It was constructed in 1863, designed by William Butterfield. The church building was severely damaged by enemy action in 1941; but was reconstructed to the designs of Adrian Gilbert Scott. The new church building was consecrated in 1961. The parish was united with that of Saint Peter's, Saffron Hill, in 1952. The area served by the church was poor and densely populated, and various missions and charitable programmes were established by the clergy and congregation; particularly curate Arthur Henry Stanton (1839-1913).

Reverend Alexander Heriot Mackonochie, 1825-1887, was ordained as perpetual curate at St Alban the Martyr in January 1862. He introduced various 'ritualistic', catholic elements to services, which prompted strict protestant John Martin to launch a lawsuit against him in 1867. The trial took place in the Court of Arches under the Church Discipline Act of 1840. Mackonochie was charged with elevating the host above his head, using a mixed chalice and altar lights, censing things and persons, and kneeling during the prayer of consecration. He was found guilty and suspended from office for three months. However, he did not cease the practices and in March 1874 a new lawsuit was brought by the Church Association, which resulted in a six-week suspension; while in June 1878 he was suspended for three years. Further proceedings in 1882 were halted by his resignation. More proceedings were launched against him in his new church and he resigned after only a year; returning to Saint Alban's as a freelance assistant. (Source of information: Rosemary Mitchell, 'Mackonochie, Alexander Heriot (1825-1887)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004.)

Archival history

GB 0074 P82/ALB 1848-1949 Collection 2.07 linear metres Parish of St Alban the Martyr, Holborn , Church of England

The church of Saint Alban the Martyr is situated on Baldwin Gardens, off Grays Inn Road. It was constructed in 1863, designed by William Butterfield. The church building was severely damaged by enemy action in 1941; but was reconstructed to the designs of Adrian Gilbert Scott. The new church building was consecrated in 1961. The parish was united with that of Saint Peter's, Saffron Hill, in 1952. The area served by the church was poor and densely populated, and various missions and charitable programmes were established by the clergy and congregation; particularly curate Arthur Henry Stanton (1839-1913).

Reverend Alexander Heriot Mackonochie, 1825-1887, was ordained as perpetual curate at St Alban the Martyr in January 1862. He introduced various 'ritualistic', catholic elements to services, which prompted strict protestant John Martin to launch a lawsuit against him in 1867. The trial took place in the Court of Arches under the Church Discipline Act of 1840. Mackonochie was charged with elevating the host above his head, using a mixed chalice and altar lights, censing things and persons, and kneeling during the prayer of consecration. He was found guilty and suspended from office for three months. However, he did not cease the practices and in March 1874 a new lawsuit was brought by the Church Association, which resulted in a six-week suspension; while in June 1878 he was suspended for three years. Further proceedings in 1882 were halted by his resignation. More proceedings were launched against him in his new church and he resigned after only a year; returning to Saint Alban's as a freelance assistant. (Source of information: Rosemary Mitchell, 'Mackonochie, Alexander Heriot (1825-1887)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004.)

Records deposited by the Vicar in the London County Record Office, County Hall, SE1, 25 July 1957.

Records of the parish of Saint Alban the Martyr, Holborn, including historical account of parish by Reverend Mackonochie; testimonials of support for Reverend Mackonochie; papers relating to the legal case of Martin v. Mackonochie; papers of the Mackonochie Testimonials and Memorial Fund Committee including correspondence with architects regarding construction of memorial chapel; papers of Reverend E F Russell; papers of curate Arthur Henry Stanton; journal of work conducted by Mackonochie at St George's Mission of St Saviour and Cross, Wellclose Square, Stepney.

Minutes of annual vestry meetings; day books; letter books and correspondence; registers of church services; financial accounts; registers of communions made; correspondence, estimates and accounts relating to renovation and restoration of church; volumes containing letters of sympathy on destruction of the church by bombs, 1941; scrapbooks of newspaper cuttings, letters, documents and photographs; legal papers relating to church property; catalogue of the library; papers relating to charities in Holborn; papers relating to Saint Alban's School; papers of church societies and clubs; photographs; orders of service and tickets; inventories; sermons and printed appeals.

No registers held.

Records catalogued as one series: P82/ALB-1: Parish Records.

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.

Copyright for these records rests with the depositor.

English

Fit.

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

See also A/GSA (Guild of St Albans).

For an account of the work and incumbency of Reverend A H Mackonochie at St Alban's, see Martyr of Ritualism by Michael Reynolds (Faber and Faber, London, 1965). Extensive use was made of the records listed here in the book.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

March to April 2010. Religious practice Church services Church societies Religion Religious conflicts Church controversies Information sources Documents Parish records Buildings Architecture Churches Religious buildings Church architecture Catholicism Anglo-Catholicism Religious activities Missions Missionary work Educational institutions Schools Church schools Social welfare Poor relief Communication process Group communication Meetings Parish meetings Vestry Religions Ancient religions Christianity Protestantism Anglicanism Church of England Religious institutions Religious organizations Religious charities Public administration Government Local government Administrative units Parishes Ecclesiastical parishes Church of England schools Denominational schools Conferences Stanton , Arthur Henry , 1839-1913 , Church of England clergyman Mackonochie , Alexander Heriot , 1825-1887 , Church of England clergyman Parish of St Alban the Martyr , Holborn , Church of England Camden London England UK Western Europe Europe Holborn Primary documents

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Records deposited by the Vicar in the London County Record Office, County Hall, SE1, 25 July 1957.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of the parish of Saint Alban the Martyr, Holborn, including historical account of parish by Reverend Mackonochie; testimonials of support for Reverend Mackonochie; papers relating to the legal case of Martin v. Mackonochie; papers of the Mackonochie Testimonials and Memorial Fund Committee including correspondence with architects regarding construction of memorial chapel; papers of Reverend E F Russell; papers of curate Arthur Henry Stanton; journal of work conducted by Mackonochie at St George's Mission of St Saviour and Cross, Wellclose Square, Stepney.

Minutes of annual vestry meetings; day books; letter books and correspondence; registers of church services; financial accounts; registers of communions made; correspondence, estimates and accounts relating to renovation and restoration of church; volumes containing letters of sympathy on destruction of the church by bombs, 1941; scrapbooks of newspaper cuttings, letters, documents and photographs; legal papers relating to church property; catalogue of the library; papers relating to charities in Holborn; papers relating to Saint Alban's School; papers of church societies and clubs; photographs; orders of service and tickets; inventories; sermons and printed appeals.

No registers held.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Records catalogued as one series: P82/ALB-1: Parish Records.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright for these records rests with the depositor.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

See also A/GSA (Guild of St Albans).

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area