The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-10-04 00:00:00

NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT

KID DE RMINSTER.

Mr. T. Lea, M.P.. and Mr. T. Banks laid the
memorial stones on Tuesday afternoon at the New
Congregational Church at Kioderminster, which is
being erected on the site where generations of wor-
shippers have assmbled in the "Old Meeting."
The traditions of the place go far back. Richard
Baxter breathed a religious vitality into Kiddermin-
ster during his immediate connection with the place
which had wondrous effect on the people, as every
one knows who is familiar with the hist-ry of the
period. Out of the leaven Mr. Baxter left in the
town came in 1693 the first efforts to, provide a
regular place of assembly for those who held Non
conformist views. The sic and buildi gof the first
meeting house cost less than £4OO, but sixty years
later, in 1753. the congregation felt strong enough
ter a larger effort. A much larger chapel was built
and things went on till 1824, when again the build—
ing was taken in hand. The cost of the edifice then
built was about £2,500, and for a time it well served
its purpose, and the Coup egationalists identified
ith it became an important factor in the borough
as time has crept on. Daring the last few years it
has become more and more obvious that efforts
would have to le mucle to secure a new structure,
and the accident which occured a few months ago
during the demolition of the old chapel was sug-
gestive of what might have happened when the con-
gregation ihenaselveA were assemlled within its

The outcome of the efforts which have been going
on for some ime past was seen in the laying of the
memorial storvs referred to. There can be little
que...-tion that the new church will be a good atchi-
tec•ural feature in a town still much lacking in this
resi.ect. Mr. F. Tarring, of London the architect,
has adopted the ornamentid Gothic style in his
treatment of the building, and the rrd Alveley stone
and white dri-ssings will no doubt come out with
good effect, judging from what can at present be
seen of the lower part of the building. -Ul.iinately.
if not immediately, a spire will be erected, which
will add to the outward presentment of the place.
The church wilt accommodato near], 1,009 worship-
pers, and the estimated cost is ,t 6,400. The con(ract
is in the hands of Mr. R. Thompson, a wed-known
local budder; and Mr. E. T. Prico, is acting as clerk
of the works. There wai a consilerable number of
persons present at the ceremony on Tuesday after-
noon, and, atter Mr. Lea and Mr Banks had laid the
two storn,s, Mr. Jos. Naylor plated in the cavities
bott:es containing vaiious papers and documents,
including a copy of interesting documents found in
the in moriat stone of the old chapel, _ _

The Rev. 1)r. Bevan, of London, gave an able
address explanAory of Congregationalism and the
position whi.h the denomination held hi the Chris-
tian Church The sum placed on the stones in the
afternoon amounted to about £250.

In the evening there was a tea meeting in the
Town Hell. and Mr. J. Briton, M.P., took the chair
after the tea, and in the course of his mum ks ex-.
pussed his sympathy with the suff refs by the
epidemic. He referred to the times and circum-
stances of which the establishment of the Old Meet
ing sp, ang, and expres,ed his satisfaction with th-
new effort now being made by the congregatiun. In
ccn_lusion, Mr. Brinton stated that when the build-
ing was completed he should be pleased to double hi.
C( ntribution.

Trieße-v-.-B-Ir. Clarkson, oF Birmingham, addr,s3od
the meeting, and expressed the deep sympathy
felt in Birmingham wi;11. liidderminst,ir in its
, pr.( sent period of trial.
I Ma Rev, Dr. Bevan also sp,,ke and was followed
by Mr. T. Lea, M.P., who sAid the,. were proud of
' the fla; of civil and rcligio :s iibLrty which had
always been upheld by the members of the Old
Meeting, and he trusted that the principle of
Chris ian love, true Christign brotherhood, would
ever si e forth as a characteristic of the o.d Meet-
ing Church. Uniformity among Christians they
could not have. It was tried 209 years ago and
failed, Though uniformity was not poEsible they
might have unity, and they had evidence of that
in the presence among them that evening, and also
during the afternoon, of the members of other
churches. He hoped that it would always be true
ot them that they should hold forth the hand cf
friend,hip to the members of other Christian
churches, and it they had this unity with other
churches, they ought as members of the same
church to have the strongest unity also among
theta-elves. Reference had been made to the sure
trouble which had fallen on many of their homes,
into too a any of which death itself had come. In
such times people came to the House of God look-
ing for comfort and consolation, and they should
always pray that the poor sorrowing ones, and the
heavily burdened ones, might coal (to the New
Meeting as In the OA Meeting, and find true coni-
fort and roil peace. (applause).