The ‘Devil’s acre’: the coffee house in Old Pye Street

Dean Buckland of Westminster, was taken ill at the time that St Matthew’s Church was built.  According to his biography (Life of Dean Buckland), his wife continued his plans to alleviate the condition of the poor.  Mrs Buckland established a ‘Coffee house’ in Old Pye Street to which Queen Victoria subscribed £50.  Mrs Buckland permitted the Revd Richard Malone to oversee the coffee house and she brought in lecturers, including Frank Buckland, to give weekly lectures and established a library.

This institution was very successful for two years but it was then discovered that the coffee house was not always being used for its original aims. The Revd Richard Malone described in his memoirs what happened:

‘Alas! The Police reported that the room was largely being used by burglars who met there to concoct their plans. After much consideration, it was decided to close the building as a coffee house and open it as an Industrial School for boys.’ [5]

Contents

    Foundation (1849-1851)
        Why St Matthew's was built
        Laying the Foundation Stone

    Malone (1851-1866)
        Consecration
        The new church
        Revd Richard Malone
        The congregation
        The Devil's acre
                Mission Hall
 >             The coffee house
                Industrial School
                Help for the poor
                Children and families
                St Matthew's School
                New housing

    Turle (1866-1884)
        Revd William Turle
        Mission Hall

    Trevelyan (1884-1907)
        Revd William Trevelyan
        Ministry at St Matthew's
        Clergy House
        The chapel of Clergy House
        Revd Frank Weston