This Chapel was so called from being situated within the precincts of Chelsea Park, which originally formed the northern part of Sir Thomas More’s grounds. It was built in 1718, by Sir Richard Manningham, who, in 1730, granted a lease of it to the Rev. William Lacey, of Battersea. At that period there was only the Old Church, and an additional episcopal place for Divine worship was needed for the convenience of the residents in Little Chelsea.
The following is a complete list to the present period of the Clergymen who have been Ministers at Park Chapel:—
1730 Rev. William Lacey, Battersea. 1736 — Dr. Sloane Ellesmere, Rector of Chelsea. 1766 — Mr. Gower, Chelsea. — — Mr. Jacobs, Rector of St. Dunstan’s in the West. 1785 — Dr. Kelly, Vicar of East Mere, Hants. 1792 — Jas. Ward, Fellow of Queen’s Col., Cambridge. 1797 — Thomas Ellis. 1800 — J. Manning. 1802 — J. Gee Smyth, Rector of Chellesworth, Suffolk. 1812 — John Owen, Rector of Paglesham, Essex. 1822 — Henry John Owen, son of the preceding. 1834 — John Harding. 1836 — Henry Vaughan. 1836 — Thomas Vores. 1841 — John C. Miller. 1846 — W. Cadman. 1852 — C. J. Goodhart. Dec. 1868 — J. G. Gregory.
The Rev. J. Gee Smyth, M.A., who it will be seen possessed Park Chapel in 1802, made very considerable alterations in it about 1810. It may be said to have been almost rebuilt by him. The late Mr. Richard Mann, of Chelsea, took a very correct sketch of the chapel, as altered by Mr. Smyth. Since 1810, at different times, it has undergone great repairs and some material improvements.
The Rev. John Owen, M.A., was born in London in 1765. He received his education at St. Paul’s School, and removed from thence to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he prosecuted his studies with such success as to obtain several prizes, and to be elected a Fellow of his College. After taking holy orders, he soon distinguished himself as a preacher, and attracted the notice of Bishop Porteus, who bestowed on him the living of Paglesham, in Essex, having previously recommended him to the Curacy of Fulham, which he held until the decease of that venerable prelate; and, on his resigning the Lectureship, in 1813, the inhabitants of that parish presented Mr. Owen with a handsome testimonial of their attachment, as an acknowledgment of the faithful manner he had discharged his duties. He was one of the distinguished founders of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and acted as honorary secretary for eighteen years. During the whole of this period he most zealously advocated, in every possible way, the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, in conjunction with the Rev. Dr. Steinkoff, and the Rev. Joseph Hughes, M.A., of Battersea. Mr. Owen possessed great mental talents, both as an extempore preacher and a writer. He was remarkably quick and correct in his conceptions, extremely thoughtful in forming his conclusions, and kind and considerate whenever a sense of duty compelled him to differ from others in opinion. He wrote the History of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and other works; and continued to discharge his sacred duties as Minister of Park Chapel as long as his health permitted. He died at Ramsgate, the 26th of September, 1822, in the 57th year of his age. He resided at Fulham during nearly the entire period of his active life.