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

It was not until 1866 that this Double Lectur.e was discontinued, and
Dudley was <strong>the</strong>n included as one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> regular places <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Monthly
Meeting. The minutes are complete from 1776, and <strong>the</strong>re are o<strong>the</strong>r
scattered references so far back as 1723.
The first meeting-house for <strong>the</strong> Dudley society was built in 1702. It
had but a short life, being destroyed in <strong>the</strong> Sacheverell Riots, on 18 July,
1715, soon after <strong>the</strong> accession <strong>of</strong> George I. An old account* relates how
<strong>the</strong> mobbe came on to Dudley on <strong>the</strong> 17 July, and <strong>the</strong> town mobbe
joined <strong>the</strong>m, crying, ' downe with <strong>the</strong> Roundheads ' and ' for Highe Church
and Dr. Sacheverall.' The mobbe brake downe <strong>the</strong> gatts. . . and about
eleven a'clock at tlighte sett fire to <strong>the</strong> two great pillars that beare up
<strong>the</strong> ro<strong>of</strong>e, which fell at two a'clock."
The meeting-houses so destroyed had to be replaced with Government
aid, A340 12s. 4d. being granted by Parliament for <strong>the</strong> rebuilding <strong>of</strong>
that at Dudley, which was finished in 1717 at a cost <strong>of</strong> 6299 17s. 2d.
James Scott says that at <strong>the</strong> same fiz~te as <strong>the</strong> chapel 71,as rebuilt by Gozlerzz-
menf a parsonage was erected, which has beelz t0Ke;lz dowtz and nzrotAer purchased.
Mr. Am~phlet, <strong>of</strong> Ifeywood Hall, was a f~ilzc@aZ contributor to tAe ereclion b<strong>of</strong>h
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> chapel a d house. After <strong>the</strong> rebuilding expenses <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> meeting-house
had been paid, and o<strong>the</strong>r damages made good, <strong>the</strong>re remained a balance
in hands <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> trustees <strong>of</strong> AIS I 5s. 4d., which sum set <strong>the</strong>m about <strong>the</strong>
building <strong>of</strong> this first parsonage. It was afterwards converted to <strong>the</strong> purpose
<strong>of</strong>, and was used for many years as <strong>the</strong> General Post Office for Dudley.
The old parsonage house is now occupied as <strong>of</strong>fices. Part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> site <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> Old Meeting-house property was formerly occupied by <strong>the</strong> old school
<strong>of</strong> industry pupils and cottages ; on which site were built Parsons' Schools
and two messuages.
Some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> old families in Dudley possess relics and curiosities <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> burnt meeting-house, in <strong>the</strong> shape <strong>of</strong> oaken stands and curious boxes
made from <strong>the</strong> ponderous timbers, which were not entirely consumed in
<strong>the</strong> conflagration.
The meeting-house remained as rebuilt until 1869, when it was closed
for more than six months to allow <strong>of</strong> complete alterations and general
renovation. Not a single feature <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> interior <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> meeting-house
*Reprinted, Inquirer, 11 December, 1869.
remained; <strong>the</strong> high box-like pews gave way to <strong>the</strong> present ones, and <strong>the</strong>
former organ was replaced by a new one, built by Messrs. Bishop and
Starr, <strong>of</strong> London. The original walls were left and cemented at <strong>the</strong> same
time ; <strong>the</strong> total cost <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> resto~ation being about 61,000, towards which
amount a member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> society had bequea<strong>the</strong>d A400. At <strong>the</strong> re-opening
services, on Sunday, 12 December, 1869, <strong>the</strong> preacher was <strong>the</strong> late kvilliam
James, minister <strong>of</strong> Lewin's Mead, Bristol.
John Southwell, first minister <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> society, came to Dudley from
Kidderminster, and in 1688 removed to Newbury, where he remained, till
his death about 1694, minister <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> society now worshipping in Toomer's
Court. He was nephew <strong>of</strong> Richard Southwell, ejected from Baswick in
StaEordshire, who, after his ejection, lived at Dodding-ton, between A<strong>the</strong>r-
stone and Leicester.
William Willetts, <strong>the</strong> next minister, died <strong>of</strong> a decline on g March,
---- . According to an old manuscript, alluded to by Mr. Arthur A.
Rollason in <strong>the</strong> Budley Uerald, 30 April,- 1898, <strong>the</strong> following epitaph was
to be seen many years ago in <strong>the</strong> Dudley Parish Church Yard, but has
since disappeared :-
The Rev. Mr. William Wilietts, an hospitable faithful minister in Dudley,
who, at <strong>the</strong> age <strong>of</strong> 36, fell asleep, 1700.
So sleep <strong>the</strong> salints-<strong>the</strong> body's kill'd,
The soul with vast enjoyments fill'd ;
But know, vain soul and sleepy sot,
Thy judge and judgment sleepeth not :
Then wake from sin.
Joseph Stokes, ordained in 1691, is "our ~lrimzister" (in original agreemet~t)
in October, 1701, <strong>the</strong> meeting-house was built for him in 1702, he
was blind from 1733, and died in 174;. Mr. Rollason thinks that on
fur<strong>the</strong>r research it will b-e found that Nathaniel Stokes followed Willetts
as minister. The Dudley Parish Registers record <strong>the</strong> burial <strong>of</strong> Nathaniel
Stokes, dissenting minister, on 15 April, 1712, but, on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand,
<strong>the</strong> generally accurate kISS. <strong>of</strong> Jalnes Scott make no reference to him as
minister <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> society, nor does his name appear in <strong>the</strong> Lists <strong>of</strong> Presl,yteria7z,
I~tdepenabzt, a?zd Bajtist Co7igregntions i~z England, prepared for Dr. John
Evans, 1714-1729, whilst Dr. Toulmin* says " Mr. Jcseph Stokes, who
"Historical View, 1814, p. 561.