Originally published in The Leader (Joseph Clatton, junr.) vol.1 #35 (23 Nov 1850).
A scene of the most extraordinary character, calculated to create considerable alarm and excitement, took place on Sunday, during morning service, at the recently-erected Protestant church of St. Barnabas, Pimlico, at which principles and practices of a decidedly Puseyite character prevail. In consequence of some attempt to interrupt divine service on the previous Sunday, and there being some apprehension that the congregation might be disturbed, or a breach of the peace committed, Sergeant Loom, of the B division, and two or three constables under him, the whole being in plain clothes, were placed in the church previous to the commencement of morning service. The sittings being all filled, the church doors were closed, and in a few minutes afterwards a well-dressed man was seen to leave by one of the side doors in Church-street, between which and the street there is a small court-yard or space opening into the thoroughfare by a door in a stone wall, the latter of which the person who quitted the edifice left open. There is every reason to believe that the scene that almost immediately followed was premeditated. The stranger had scarcely left the building five minutes when a loud shouting and yelling, with the clamour of many voices, was heard by those within the sacred edifice, and Sergeant Loom and his men rushed out by the door the stranger had taken, and by dint of great personal activity, favoured by the position of the entrance, succeeded in preventing an attack upon the church until the arrival of a large party of the police. Upon the sergeant first issuing from the church with his men, he found that some half-dozen of a mob of nearly 200 had entered the door before spoken of into the space between that and the church, when, by a most determined effort, they succeeded in closing the outer door, and thus separating those who had entered from the main body, amidst the cries of "We'll have no Popery! Down with the church! Break the door open!" and such like exclamations. The few persons who had entered as described retreated over the stone wall, upon finding the rest of the party cut off, and the crowd encreased momentarily until the arrival of Inspector Cumming, of the B division who was upon the ground within a few minutes with a small party of men, immediately followed by Mr. Russell, the superintendent of the division, with a fresh body of constables. At this time the mob must have numbered very near a thousand, and consisted chiefly of gentlemen and well-dressed persons. There was a very strong feeling manifested by many of the well-dressed persons present against the proceedings at St. Barnabas, and it required the exercise of very considerable firmness and moderation on the part of the police to prevent a most serious disturbance. By dint of persuasion and force the assemblage, which was such as temporarily to cause much anxiety for the safety of the congregation and the neighbourhood, was, with the exception of one person, who was captured, dispersed.
The police brought up their prisoner on Monday morning before Mr. Broderip, at the Westminster Police Court, He turned out to be William Goss, butler in the establishment of Mr. A.R. Drummond, the eminent banker, of 2, Bryanstone-square, and was charged with a breach of the peace, and endeavouring to force his way into St. Barnabas Church, Pimlico, on Sunday morning, during divine service. The court was crowded during the investigation, which occupied some time. The following are the most important depositions and the extraordinary magisterial decision.
Inspector Cumming, who preferred the charge, said:—
"He proceeded to St. Barnabas Church on Sunday, in consequence of information which had reached him that a very large mob had assembled round the church, threatening to break open the doors and commit other acts of violence. On his arrival he saw a crowd of persons around the church, threatening to break open the doors and commit other acts of violence. He desired his men to disperse the crowd, and, whilst they were doing so, the defendant, who had made himself particularly active, endeavoured to force his way into the church. Upon this the crowd became more excited, and made use of the most violent and threatening language. The defendant was then taken into custody."
The accused maintained that the police were mistaken, and called, among others, Mr. Z.D. Berry, ironmonger, of 3, Victoria-road, one of the trustees of the district, who, after detailing the expressions of annoyance felt by a great number of gentlemen at being refused admittance at five minutes past eleven o'clock, and the circumstance of the party, among whom was a nobleman living in Eaton-place, as before described, saying that a few minutes after that a gentleman who came out of the church over the wall, declared "he was disgusted; the candles were lighted; it was Popery in its most malignant form;" and that led to the cry outside of "No Popery!"
Mr. Broderip said—I have now heard the whole of the case, and the evidence on both sides is now before me. It is quite clear that a very large mob of persons was present, a proportion of whom were highly respectable, and a portion thieves and low characters. The question is, whether the person before me was at all active in leading the mob or doing that only which he might have a right to do—attempting to gain admission into the church. Now it appears from the evidence that there was room inside the church when admittance was refused. I find that all he is charged with is putting his foot to the door to get in, but a great many of the witnesses swear that he did not do so, and, therefore, I do not think it is a case for me to call on the defendant for sureties for his good behaviour, and therefore I must dismiss him. But the Queen's peace must be preserved, and I am determined to preserve it within this district; but those persons have much to answer for and undertake a serious responsibility who provoke breaches of the peace by exciting the indignation of their fellow-subjects by the ceremonies of the Romish Church at such a time as the present, and excite the indignation of those who hold the religion of the country.
These expressions were followed by a general burst of enthusiasm, clapping of hands, &c., which was taken up by the persons assembled outside the court.