Plaque: Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts
Erection date: 27/4/1907
{On plaque to right of entrance:}
To the glory of God and in furtherance of the work of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts this stone was laid by HRH George Prince of Wales on April 27 AD 1907.
{In Gothic lettering in the arch above the doors:}
The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts
{Either side of the doors:}
AD 1701
{The relief above the entrance caries a label:}
Transiens Adjuvanos (Latin which could translate as "help is coming".}
The plaque is dull compared with this relief showing the expectant natives reaching out to the Gospel-bringer in his ship with puffed up sails, all illuminated by rays of light. This is a version of the image on the organisation's seal from 1701.
The Prince who laid this stone went on to become King George V.
Site: Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (1 memorial)
SW1, Tufton Street
Not a good day for photographing this building, designed by Sir William Emerson as HQ for the Society in 1907. Ornamental Passions have a very good post on this and there we learn that the statue on the Great Peter Street corner (to the far right of our photo) is St Paul, who in a vision reported in the Acts of the Apostles was beseeched by a foreigner to come and help. The Arts Council now occupy the building, the Society having moved to Lambeth in 1987.
