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

Court <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lord <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> manor in 1659, and this is <strong>the</strong> beginning <strong>of</strong> its
written history. Subsequent surrenders took place at each renewal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
body <strong>of</strong> Trustees. Dr. Nash, <strong>the</strong> historian <strong>of</strong> Worcestershire, says <strong>of</strong> Bishop
Lloyd, one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> seven bishops committed by James II., and who held <strong>the</strong>
See from 1699 to 1717, that he ousted <strong>the</strong> dissenters from this Chapel, and
notwithstanding <strong>the</strong> pretence <strong>of</strong> its standing on copyliold ground, consecrated
both Chapel and Cemetery. The present meeting-house n7as, <strong>the</strong>refore, a
substitute for <strong>the</strong> Chapel 'from which <strong>the</strong> congregation had be'en ejected.
The building was erected on land given in 1708 by John Turton, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
Brades. In 1715, <strong>the</strong> Tory mob, which had set on fire <strong>the</strong> Old Meeting,
Birmingham, and destroyed <strong>the</strong> chapel at West Bromnrich, came to Oldbury,
and set fire to <strong>the</strong> building while <strong>the</strong> minister was preaching. The amount
<strong>of</strong> damage done is now unknown. In 1806, <strong>the</strong> Rev. William Procter was
instrumental in getting <strong>the</strong> meeting-house rebuilt at a cost <strong>of</strong> about E3oo.
The congregation must have been very small as those resident in Oidbury
only contributed AI~. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> subscribers is still represented by three
generations in <strong>the</strong> present congregation.
Dr. Toulmin preached at <strong>the</strong> reopening, on Sunday, 12 July, 1807, his
text being I Chronicles, xxix., g :-
Then <strong>the</strong> people rejoiced, for that <strong>the</strong>y <strong>of</strong>fered ~.villingly, because with perfect
heart <strong>the</strong>y <strong>of</strong>fered willingly to <strong>the</strong> Lord : and David, <strong>the</strong> King, also rejoiced
with great joy.
In 1862, <strong>the</strong> building was remodelled and refitted at a cost <strong>of</strong> Egoo ; and
last year [1889] fur<strong>the</strong>r alterations were effected at a cost <strong>of</strong> ;Gzoo. The
walls are, however, chiefly <strong>the</strong> walls <strong>of</strong> 1806, and a small portion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
original fabric <strong>of</strong> 1708 still remains. The lectern and con~n~union table are
made <strong>of</strong> oak, which formed part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pews <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first building, and <strong>the</strong>
pulpit is <strong>the</strong> same that was used in <strong>the</strong> second.
From a short article in <strong>the</strong> Christian Freer;lta?z: 1870, p. 13'7, which also
gives an engraving <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> premises, we ga<strong>the</strong>r that in 1728 <strong>the</strong> trustees
came into possession <strong>of</strong> 5% acres <strong>of</strong> land near Oldbury, devised two years
before by John Price, <strong>of</strong> Halesowen, for <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> poor, and fur support-
ing <strong>the</strong> minister <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> meeting-house. In 1784 <strong>the</strong> building was purchased
in which <strong>the</strong> free school was begun three or four years previously ; also,
<strong>the</strong> cottage and land adjoining <strong>the</strong> meeting-house, but how <strong>the</strong> funds (,Gr40)
were obtained is not stated. In 1790, five acres more came to <strong>the</strong> trustees
for <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> poor from one Richard Nock, but whe<strong>the</strong>r by gift or
purchase is not known. In 1817, Henry Hunt, Esquire, <strong>of</strong> The Brades,
handed over to <strong>the</strong> trustees <strong>the</strong> house and garden adjoining <strong>the</strong> school,
purchased by his fa<strong>the</strong>r and o<strong>the</strong>rs for <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> minister.