Midland Churches: A History of the Congregations on - General ...

on <strong>the</strong> left side in <strong>the</strong> apse. O<strong>the</strong>r gifts also enriched <strong>the</strong> church at <strong>the</strong>
same time ; <strong>the</strong> total cost <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> alterations and <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> new organ (by
Messrs. Nicholson and Co., <strong>of</strong> Worcester) was about LI~OO. The re-opening
sermons on 13 September, 1896, were preached by Brooke Herford,
D. D., <strong>of</strong> Hampstead, who, exactly 30 years before, had preached <strong>the</strong> Sunday
School Anniversary Sermons in <strong>the</strong> church.
Above any o<strong>the</strong>r church in <strong>the</strong> Union this one stands pre-eminent for
<strong>the</strong> loyal and long-continued services so voluntarily rendered to it by its
own lay preachers. With <strong>the</strong> exception <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> brief period from April, 1848-
August, 1852, <strong>the</strong>re was no paid minister from <strong>the</strong> beginning, in 1834, until
<strong>the</strong> settlement <strong>of</strong> John Cucltson, in February, 1862. Morning and evening,
year in and year out, regular services were held by John Green--foremost
<strong>of</strong> all, who conducted <strong>the</strong> first service and onlygave up from failing health,
when Mr. Cuckson was appointed minister-Daniel Baker, Wm. Buncher,
#
Edw. Corn, Matthias Green, John Hughes, Charles and John Lloyd, Edw.
Newey, Edw. Corn Osborne, Thos. Prime, Jos. Stevens, Robt. Stokes, Jos.
Shenton, Geo. Tombs, Thos. Towers, Thos. Weston and Geo. Wright.
They were frequently assisted by two ministers, Edward Bristow and
George Skey.
On 14 March, 1848, James Cranbrook became <strong>the</strong> first minister at a
stipend <strong>of</strong> LIOO per ac. Prior to his settlement here Cranbrook was <strong>the</strong>
minister <strong>of</strong> an-
Independent or Congregational Church in Belfast, where-
says Mr. Stych in his <strong>History</strong>, p. 19-
he had evidently made his mark, for as soon as it was made known in
Belfast that he was about to lezve for Birmingham, <strong>the</strong> friends <strong>of</strong> Free
Christianity in Belfast implored him to remain in that town. And in order
to effect this a memorial or petition was sent to Mr. Cranbrook, after his
acceptance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pastorate <strong>of</strong> this Church, begging him Zo renzaigz in that
tozelrz n?zd /end lhrns on to n trzter and freer ?-eligion. A request being also sent
to this congregation to release him from his engagement. Mr. Cranbrook,
having already accepted <strong>the</strong> invitation to Birmingham, at once placed him-
self in <strong>the</strong> hands <strong>of</strong> this congregation, whose will, he said, should be his.
If <strong>the</strong>y desired him still to come to Birmingham he would come, or if <strong>the</strong>y
felt he ought to stay in Belfast, <strong>the</strong>n he would con~ply with <strong>the</strong> prayer <strong>of</strong>
his friends <strong>the</strong>re, and try to build up a free church in that place. In fact,
he placed himself unreservedly in <strong>the</strong> hands <strong>of</strong> this congregation, who, true
to <strong>the</strong>ir attachment, renewed <strong>the</strong>ir appeal to him to come, and in <strong>the</strong> follow-
ing month, April agrd, 1848, Mr. Cranbrook commenced his ministry at
Newhall Hill. In <strong>the</strong> following year, 1849, a fur<strong>the</strong>r invitation was extended
to Mr. Cranbrook to continue his pastorate, which he did till March, 1850.
In that month Mr. Cranbrook, in a letter which reflects great credit, an-
nounced his intention to resign and return to <strong>the</strong> Orthodox faith which held
him previous to his ministry here. So ended <strong>the</strong> first ministry at Newhall
I-Iill.
Cranbrook preached twice at <strong>the</strong> fVo?zth& Meeti~zg, at Wolverhampton,
on 16 May, 1548, text PS. lxxxv., 8 ; and at <strong>the</strong> Old Meeting, Birmingham,
on 13 November, 1849, text 2,Cor. v. 16.
James Cooper became minister at a salary <strong>of</strong> L75 per an., and <strong>the</strong>
cause <strong>of</strong> his resignation appears to have been owing to <strong>the</strong> financial difli-
culties <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> congregation.
Macdonald's retirement in <strong>the</strong> following year was probably due to <strong>the</strong>
same cause ; this being <strong>the</strong> period <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> society's greatest depression,
financially and o<strong>the</strong>rwise. In fact, it had been resolved at a meeting held
on 29 August, 1852, that <strong>the</strong> society should be brought to a close, and as
it was very much in debt, that <strong>the</strong> buildings should be delivered up to <strong>the</strong>
trustees for realization. But at <strong>the</strong> darkest hour came <strong>the</strong> dawn <strong>of</strong> brighter
days, and at a meeting <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> more determined friends it was decided that
<strong>the</strong> doors should not be closed, and by a vigorous effort this determinatioi~
was carried out and <strong>the</strong> continuity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> congregation maintained.
The communion plate and baptismal basin are gifts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Prime family,
so intimately connected with <strong>the</strong> society ; <strong>the</strong> pieces are :-Chalices (4),
electro, 73in. tall, plain, two handles. Patens (4), electro, 8sin. diameter,
plain. Flagon (I), electro, 11gin. tall, handle, beak, lid with Latin cross
erect. No inscription, but all given by Mr. Thomas Prime in 1834. Bap-
tismal bowl, electro, foot, two handles. Inscription :-
PRESENTED TO THE UNITARIAN CHURCH, NEWHALL HILL, BIRMINGHAM,
BY THE WARDENS, THOMAS PRIME AND Taonl~s PRIME, JUNR..
AUGUST, I 862.
JAMES CRANBROOK, min. Belfast (Independent) -1848 ; Birmingham, Newhall Hill,
March, 1848-March, 1850 ; Stratford-on-Avon, 1850-1851 ; Liscard, 1851- ; Edinburgh,
Albany Street Independent, -1867 ; m. and had issue.
d. 6 June, 1869, in Edinburgh.
C$ Inq., 1867, p. 138; private information.