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

permitted to judge from <strong>the</strong> very retired position in Cole Hill occupied by
<strong>the</strong> present place and its adjoining burial ground, it does not seem unlikely
that this was <strong>the</strong> spot.
No reference is made in <strong>the</strong> register to <strong>the</strong> building operations <strong>of</strong> 1724.
The meeting-house <strong>the</strong>n erected retained its original features until <strong>the</strong>
restoration <strong>of</strong> 1879-80, when a new ro<strong>of</strong> was put on <strong>the</strong> sturdy old walls,
and <strong>the</strong> whole <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> interior-
refitted and modernised
at a cost <strong>of</strong> L~OO. Sir Robert Peel, in his speech on <strong>the</strong> second reading
in <strong>the</strong> House <strong>of</strong> Commons <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Dissenters' Chapels Bill, 1844, alluding
to this place, said :-
For myself I represent a town. There is a Unitarian Chapel <strong>the</strong>re. It was
founded in 1724. It was founded by Unitarians. There never was a suspicion
that it was founded for <strong>the</strong> promotion <strong>of</strong> Trinitarian doctrines. For fifty-
three years <strong>the</strong>re was a minister holding anti-Trinitarian doctrines. I
recollect <strong>the</strong> close <strong>of</strong> his life. There was but one single bequest for <strong>the</strong>
endowment <strong>of</strong> that chapel, which was left by <strong>the</strong> daughter <strong>of</strong> that Unitarian
minister. There is religious peace in <strong>the</strong> constituency I represent.
The registers, however, which contain entries by Jonah Malkin and
John Byng, bear witness that <strong>the</strong>y were not <strong>the</strong> first two ministers <strong>of</strong> this
society. The first book begins with <strong>the</strong> heading :-
A Register <strong>of</strong> such persons as were baptized by Mr. Ed~~zund Taylor, a non-
.co?Yfanl;i/zg minister in ye parish <strong>of</strong> Tanzworth, and o<strong>the</strong>rs. The first entry is
dated 25 Dece?nber, I 695, James, son <strong>of</strong> Joh?z A~~nshaw, Wil?zcoate ; <strong>the</strong> last, by
Taylor, on 20 March, 170112. Then we have fur<strong>the</strong>r mention <strong>of</strong> his name
in A Xoul <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> commu7zica?zts in Ta~/rzeto?,th at nty c0nzi~z.g thi<strong>the</strong>r October 5,
1703, and places adjacent belonging to <strong>the</strong> Dissenting Church <strong>the</strong>re ad~~zitted by
Mr. Taylor and MY. Bladon. Henry Roughly.
Edmund Taylor <strong>the</strong>n must surely be looked on as <strong>the</strong> first minister
<strong>of</strong> this society ; in all probability Thomas Bladen assisted him in his work.
An entry on 11 April, 1704, makes mention <strong>of</strong> ano<strong>the</strong>r minister <strong>of</strong>ficiat-
ing <strong>the</strong>re :--Elizabeth, dazghter <strong>of</strong> Robert Sh@ton, was baptized by MY, Robert
Travers, on 5 October, 1703/4.
Henry Roughley twice records that he came to Tamworth, on 5 October,
1703/4, and <strong>the</strong>re are frequent entries by him until his last in 1708. His
was evidently an active ministry here. Under <strong>the</strong> heading, Admitted by me,
Neary Roz~ghley, since nzy conzing, October 5, 1703, are <strong>the</strong> names <strong>of</strong> 108 communicants.
He is careful to record <strong>the</strong> dates <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir admissions, and
o<strong>the</strong>r items, such as Julze 24, 1705, Thonzas Langham and Elizabeth, his wzjre,
<strong>of</strong> Midleton, by certzj2cate from Hinckley ; and December 30, Sz~ssa~zah Lench, by
cert~jt'cate frotlt <strong>the</strong> loze~er meeting in Bimzinghanz. It is his hand which has
entered :-
A Confession <strong>of</strong> faith to be made by szfch as are to be admitted to <strong>the</strong> Lord's
Sapper accordifzg to GospelZ rule,
/ believe in God <strong>the</strong> Fa<strong>the</strong>r allvzzkhty, maker <strong>of</strong> heaven and earth, and in Jesus
Christ his 0124 Son OILY Lord, who was co?zceived by <strong>the</strong> No& Ghost, born <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
virgin IClnry, sufered z~ndel- Pontius Pilate, was crz~czjied, dead, alzd buried, and
contirzz~ed in <strong>the</strong> state <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> dead, <strong>the</strong> third day he arose ugailz from <strong>the</strong> dead,
and siteth at <strong>the</strong> r&ht hand <strong>of</strong> God <strong>the</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>r Allnz@hty, from whence he shall come
to judge <strong>the</strong> quick and dead. I believe in <strong>the</strong> Hob Ghost, <strong>the</strong> h04 Catholick Church,
<strong>the</strong> Contunion <strong>of</strong> Saints, <strong>the</strong> forgiveness <strong>of</strong> silzs, <strong>the</strong> Resurrectio?~ <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> body, and
<strong>the</strong> lfe everlastin.g. A men.
His first baptism is thus entered :-23 JzlZy, 1704, Sarah, Daz~ghter to
William Latham, beiug broz~ght to our public.4 ~neetifzg place, Lord's Day, ye 23
July, I 704, ze~as baptized by me, Henry Xoz~,g,hley.
Ano<strong>the</strong>r entry reads :-June 21, 1705, being <strong>the</strong> pr@aratio?z day, Mary,
Daz~xhtev to .yohn Hazeldine, nzason, was baptized in <strong>the</strong> vieeting place by me,
UJJ. Roz~gkdey.
The baptism <strong>of</strong> his own daughter is recorded so :--On 27Jz~ne, 1706,
~l/nry, dazrghter, zrlas pz/blickZy carried to <strong>the</strong> rnzeeti12.g place <strong>of</strong> Tant7elort/l, being
<strong>the</strong> day <strong>of</strong> 7hanksgiz~ing for <strong>the</strong> frten2orable victory obtained by his Grace <strong>the</strong> Duke
<strong>of</strong> A~arlborozgh oztor <strong>the</strong> frelzch at Xathnzile, and <strong>the</strong>re baptized: before <strong>the</strong> whole
co~zgrc'gntion, by nze, Hen. Xoug kley.
His last entry runs :--April 25, I 708, Thomas, vty so~z, was carried to <strong>the</strong>
publick nzeetit~g, being Lord's Day, and <strong>the</strong>re Baptized by ?rze, Hen. Roughley.
A copy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Communicants' ' Roul ' <strong>of</strong> Taylor and Bladen, and <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
Ordination Certificate <strong>of</strong> Thomas Flavel, entered c11 <strong>the</strong> first leaf <strong>of</strong> this
register, follow :-
A Rozhl <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Comnzunicants in. Tamworth at nzy* coming thi<strong>the</strong>r October 5,
*i.e., Henry Roughley.