Life history
Kensit, a bookseller from London, had in his youth been a chorister at St Lawrence Jewry and attracted to the Ritualist elements of church services, but in later life became a Protestant leader and anti-Ritualist campaigner.[1] In 1889 he founded the Protestant Truth Society[2] to oppose what he saw as the excessive influence of the Oxford Movement on the Church of England, despite the Public Worship Regulation Act 1874.
Activities as a polemicist
Kensit, along with other campaigners, such as William Harcourt, believed the government and the courts were not dealing with ritualism in the Church of England vigorously enough.[1] Kensit would deal with the issue by attending churches where he believed Ritualism was still being conducted or appear at courts where Ritualist cases were being tried, and would vocally disrupt proceedings.[1][3]
On Good Friday, 15 April 1898, Kensit with some of his followers attended the service at St Cuthbert's, Earls Court, and 'seized the crucifix, and, holding it aloft, said in a clear and distinct voice, "I denounce this idolatry in the Church of England; may God help me".' He and his supporters were with difficulty ejected from the church. Kensit was charged, convicted and fined £3 (about £350 today), but acquitted on appeal at the Clerkenwell Quarter Sessions, though without costs. Kensit was caricatured on the misericord in the vicar's stall in the Sanctuary of St Cuthbert's with protruding ass's ears.[4]
Kensit made international news in 1899 when he announced that he would stand as a candidate in the 1900 general election in Manchester East against Arthur Balfour, the Leader of the House of Commons.[5] In fact, he stood in Brighton as the 'Protestant' candidate where he received 4,693 votes (24.5%), finishing third behind the two Conservative candidates.
