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

In this meeting-house, Patrick Simson, M.A., first minister <strong>of</strong> Vicar
Lane Church, Coventry, was ordained, on 8 July, 1875. The event is thus
noted it1 <strong>the</strong> Church records :-
'' Thursday, Ju& 8. This day Mr. Pafrick Sillzso~z was sokm7zly set apart
to <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ?ni7zistry and <strong>the</strong> pastoral' <strong>of</strong>ice at Ke?ziZzttort?z."
After <strong>the</strong> passing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Dissenters' Chapels Bill (1844) <strong>the</strong> intention
<strong>of</strong> rebuilding this place <strong>of</strong> worship assumed form, but an unexpected occurrence
led to an eiltire change in <strong>the</strong> first projected plan. The legislative
measure just mentioned owed its success, against a most formidable opposition,
in no small degree to <strong>the</strong> exertions <strong>of</strong> Edwin Wilkins Field (d. 30
July, 1871, by <strong>the</strong> upsetting <strong>of</strong> a boat on Thames), solicitor, London. In
recognition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> large services rendered by him, and <strong>of</strong> his untiring efforts
to secure <strong>the</strong> passing <strong>of</strong> this Bill, <strong>the</strong> sum <strong>of</strong> A530 was subscribed, which,
in place <strong>of</strong> accepting for his own use-he being earnestly desirous that
his services on that important measure should be received as entirely
gratuitous-he requested should be added to <strong>the</strong> fund <strong>the</strong>n being raised
for <strong>the</strong> rebuilding <strong>of</strong> this meeting-house, <strong>of</strong> which his fa<strong>the</strong>r, William Field,
had long been minister, so that <strong>the</strong> building might stand as a reminder <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> great victory which had been gained in <strong>the</strong> interests <strong>of</strong> religious freedom.
The especial conditions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> grant were that <strong>the</strong> whole sum should
be exclusively expended in giving to <strong>the</strong> building a higher architectural
character, so as to render it, in its form and finish, worthy to stand as a
memorial <strong>of</strong> that event whi~h is justly regarded as forming an epoch in
<strong>the</strong> history <strong>of</strong> civil and religious liberty.
In pursuance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> design thus stated, <strong>the</strong> plan adopted was that by
Mr. Horace Field, architect, <strong>of</strong> a small Gothic chapel, built <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same
stone as that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> walls <strong>of</strong> Kenilworth Castle, rough hewn, with tooled
jambs and quoins. The cectre <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> interior is occupied with movable
benches, all worshippers being so seated as to face <strong>the</strong> pulpit, which is
raised some three steps above <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> floor. Above <strong>the</strong> pulpit,
in <strong>the</strong> east end wall, is a rose window, and in <strong>the</strong> opposite wall is a large
Gothic window, with tracery, which faces Rosemary Hill. The site is a
gently-rising ground, and <strong>the</strong> building stands upon a terrace, five feet in
height, ascended by a flight <strong>of</strong> broad steps, commanding a fine view <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> Castle ruins. The space between <strong>the</strong> terrace and <strong>the</strong> road, measuring
some forty feet, is occupied by a well-wooded burial ground.