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

The following inscription (extant in 1871) was placed on <strong>the</strong> interior
walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> chapel :-
Under happy auspices this chapel, dedicated to <strong>the</strong> worship <strong>of</strong> one God and
Fa<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> all, originally erected 1705, was rebuilt in its present form, 1846,
as a memorial <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> great act <strong>of</strong> public justice by which <strong>the</strong> unrestricted
right <strong>of</strong> private judgment in matters <strong>of</strong> religion is established, and <strong>the</strong> peace-
ful possession secured to non-subscribing Dissenters <strong>of</strong> all property transmitted
to <strong>the</strong>m from <strong>the</strong>ir ancestors. Added to a voluntary subscription for <strong>the</strong>
rebuilding <strong>of</strong> this chapel, <strong>of</strong> which his fa<strong>the</strong>r was minister, <strong>the</strong> sum <strong>of</strong> L530
was appropriated at <strong>the</strong> request <strong>of</strong> Edwin Wilkins Field, solicitor, <strong>of</strong> London,
to whose acceptance it had been <strong>of</strong>fered by <strong>the</strong> non-subscribing Dissenters
in England and Ireland as an acknowledgment <strong>of</strong> services rendered in aid
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir exertions to obtain <strong>the</strong> legislative recognition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir right, as non-
subscribing congregations, to hold trust property in accordance with <strong>the</strong>
laws <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> land.
This inscription has, since 1871, given place to <strong>the</strong> following, now on
<strong>the</strong> wall over <strong>the</strong> inner door :-
This chapel was rebuilt during <strong>the</strong> ministry <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Rev. William Field, by
voluntary contributions <strong>of</strong> friends, in addition to <strong>the</strong> sum <strong>of</strong> E530, which
was generously devoted to that purpose by Edwin Wilkins Field, Esqre.,
solicitor, London, to whom it had been presented as an acknowledgment
<strong>of</strong> his services in connection with <strong>the</strong> passing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Dissenters' Chapels
Act.
Samuel Turton, who died in 1728, was doubtless <strong>the</strong> first regular
minister <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> society. The author has a note, for which, however, he
has failed to find confirmation, to <strong>the</strong> effect that Turton was minister here
in 1700. He was <strong>the</strong> son <strong>of</strong> William Turton (see p. 45), first minister <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> Old Meeting, Birmingham ; his name and year <strong>of</strong> death are given in
Dr. Evans's List, also that <strong>of</strong> his successor, John Bassett, who may have
been related to his contemporary, Josiah Bassett, minister at Cradley (see
p. go). In a letter from Joseph Carpenter, minister at Warwick, dated
Warwick, July 19, 1735,"* we meet with <strong>the</strong> following communication :-
G' Mr. PhiZ@s is engaged [as r?zi?zister] to Ke?ziZ7oort/z for a year from Mid-
sumllzer. I wish he may do as 7?zzuh good as his Predecessor has done hurt, who
is now worki~zg ozct his ow?z ruin as fast as he can."
Was this " predecessor," Bassett ?
*Pvot. Diss. Afag., vol. v., p. 284.
Mr. Philips " was Samuel Philips, who ministered (1736-1768-
Bromsgrove, where he lived.
Francis Blackmore was on friendly terms with him ; when minister
in charge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Christian Society <strong>of</strong> Protestant Bissenters in Worcester,* he
baptized three sons <strong>of</strong> Philips, at Bromsgrove, in hk house <strong>the</strong>re.
John Kirkpatrick, says <strong>the</strong> Rev. George Fox, in his charming and
entertaining volume, G C The <strong>History</strong> <strong>of</strong> Park Lane Chapel, 1897 "-
was born at Irongray, three miles from Dumfries. When Hezekiah [his son]
was but a little child his fa<strong>the</strong>r removed to Kenilworth, to take charge <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> Presbyterian Chapel <strong>the</strong>re.
In a foot note to this paragraph, A.G. says-
He removed from Bedworth, where he was assistant to Julius Saunders, before
1730, perhaps before 1724. He was M.A., probably <strong>of</strong> Glasgow, and educated
ministers at Bedworth.
Continuing his story, Mr. Fox writes-
From information kindly supplied by <strong>the</strong> only living representative <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
Kirkpatricks, Mrs. Alice Green, <strong>of</strong> Southport [<strong>the</strong> great grand-daughter <strong>of</strong>
John Kirkpatrick], her granclfa<strong>the</strong>r [Hezekiah], and a little sister travelled
all <strong>the</strong> way from Scotland in panniers on a donkey's back. It is probable,
in those days <strong>of</strong> scanty stipends and imperfect means <strong>of</strong> locomotion, that
<strong>the</strong> parents made <strong>the</strong> journey on foot. The Rev. John Kirkpatrick, at Kenil-
worth, preached and printed a sermon in memory <strong>of</strong> a little daughter, aged
ten years and four months, who died February 11, 1746-7, from virulent
smallpox, after an illness <strong>of</strong> only eight days. It appears that <strong>the</strong> child was
a prodigy <strong>of</strong> learning for her age, and possessed <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most attractive
moral qualities. .. But <strong>the</strong> chief interest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sermon consists in <strong>the</strong> absence
<strong>of</strong> anything like orthodoxy in it. The discourse is pervaded by <strong>the</strong> spirit <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> Scriptures, and abounds with scriptural references ; but it is entirely free
from anything savouring <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> doctrines <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> popular <strong>the</strong>ology. Thus, in
an inconspicuous instance, is found an example <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> way in which, so early
in <strong>the</strong> 18th century, orthodoxy had begun to disappear from <strong>the</strong> old chapels.
Sibree (pp. 163-166) gives an account <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ministers educated
by Kirkpatrick, at Bedworth, where-
he appears to have continued in his work till about <strong>the</strong> year 1750, when
he ceased to labour and to live ; and, it is said, he was interred near <strong>the</strong>
grave <strong>of</strong> his predece~sor,
"Angel Street, Worcester, Register <strong>of</strong> Baptisms, 1699-1759.