The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-05-23 00:00:00

gocal nub istrict gars.

THE PROPOSED CEMETERY FOR

STOURBRIDGE.

NOISY VESTRY MEETING AT THE

OLDSWINFORD SCHOOLS.
A meeting of the ratepayers of Upper Swin•
ford and Stourbriclge was held in the Natioual
School-roonis, Upper Swinford, on Tuesday
afternoon last. There was a large attendance,
amongst those present being the Revs. H. Sher-
rard, T. Williams, J. Richards, D. Maginnis,
and Messrs. J. McEwen, Stringer, Pridiley,
Evers, Chamberlain, Bernard, Perry, Prescott,
&c., &v. _ _

Mr. Stringer proposed that the Rev. H. Sher-
raid take the chair.
Tbis having been seconded, _ .

Mr. Prescott proposed as an amendment that
the Rev. T. Williams take the chair, he being
the senior curate of the town. It WA% however,
discovered that the rev. gentleman was not then
preeent, and the proposition fell to the ground.

The Rev. H. gbeiTard then took ta chair,
and said he would very much rather have seen
the rector of Oldswinford in that position. The
purpose for which they bad met together was to
!eke into consideration whether something ought
net to be done to provide a burial ground for the
united parishes of Upper Swinford and Stour-
bridge. Stourbridgo had always had the right of
burial in the ground belonging to the parish
church at Oldswinford, und that burial ground
htd been enlarged two or three years since. It
bad been repeatedly filled up, and in the course
of two or three years they would require addl.
tional burial room. The question simply was
this. It was not whether they were to have ad
&timed burial room; after two or three years
tins it was plain they roust have a burial ground
somewhere or other. The question before them
was where they should have that burial ground.
With regard to Stourbridge, there was no buriai
ground open to it but that which belonged to
Upper Swinford. Of course, the inhabitants
could be buried in the churchyards at Wollaston
or Atublecote. Whilst on this subject he wished
' to correct et slight mistake which he had made at
tee former Vestry Meeting, when Ito stated that
Am blecote burial place had been shut up. But
these grounds were simply for the inhabitants of
tortes parishes. The people of this town would
ave to pay expensive chapel fees in addition to
paying for the ground, and the accommodation
would not last long if it were made use of by the
inhabitants of Stourbridge. They had for a
loine time jeined with thoso iii Upper Swinford
in n-ing the burial ground at the Mother
Clitirelt. As far its be nuderstood. they could
trot Intro another enlargement of the present
burial ground rut Oldwinford. The question then
stared them in the face, where should they have
a burial ground in two or three years. It seemed
to him Bret they ought to have a cemetery, such
is wits found at other towns. It seemed to hint
that that was what Was wanted. He WAS of
opinion that that was what the people of Stour-
ridge would have to come to, sad they had met
Wet:tiler to pro% hie a cemetery for both parishes.
It vets true the parish of Upper Swiuford could
g by itself ; but they (the it.habitants of S;onr-
et idge) had so long been with them, that they
should ,ike to continue with them. If that parish
provided a cemetery for itself alone, it would
shut the people of Stourbridge out altogether.
1e thought it would be better for them to ittie
ge: her, as it would by that means be cheaper
for both parties. And if they meant to have a
cemetery in two or three years they had better
de lie to have it at once. for they would find two
er three years would net be too long a tie.c as
Litre were a great many legal formalities to be
gone through before they could have one, Ile
thought they would not like to find when two or
three years were passed, aud the present burial
reeninel was filled up, that they had no place in
which to bury their dead. He hoped the subject
wind be looked at by the meeting in this ligut.
nie question wire, how should they have the ad-
ditional burial ground required. Which was the
best way to have it. Ile (the speaker) WAS of
opinion that a cemetery would be the best thing
fry! both tipper Swiuford and Stourbridge. If
ire bad one it coued be kept in order and made
d desirable place in which to putt ,e remains of
their deceased relatives or friends. He thought
it would be most tiesirable for those parishes to
join together and have such a cemetery. He
understood there were sema there who would
object to this course ; but lie would suggest if
here were any gentlemen present who did not
think they should have u cemetery, he hoped
they would tell those present bow they should be
awe to bury their dead two or three years henae.
de hoped they would consider tbat question
e daily and reasonably, for every one must knee
that it is absolutely necessary for them to have
some II ea in which to lmry tho'r dead.
Mr Prescott asked the Chairman to read the
notice convening that meeting for the townships
of Upper Swinford and Stourbridge.
Tee rev, gentleman having done this,
r Prescott asked him to read over the names
of t 111 use wliw had called the meeting.
The having also been done,
Mr. Prescott said; Would you kindly turn to
the Vestry Book and read the appointment of
.he two last-Ratued gentlemen (Messrs. Charles
King and G. Harward) and when they were ay.
pointed church wardene.

Mr. Bernard here got up, whereupon Mr. Pres.
cott told hint that he wds id possession of the
chsir. and the former gentleman eat down.
Mr. Prescott then said he was told that Mr. G.
Harward hdd net been elected, and that his name
bad been substituted for another. If that was
true, that proposition fell to the ground.
Mr. Bernard : I object to these questions.
Mr. Prescott : You can object as mach as you
like, I am in posession of the chair.
Mr. Perry : I would submit that this is not s
tribunal for trying questims of technicaliiy.
file real question is whether this meeting is
teed 1, called.

Mr. Prescott: I say I have a right to enquire
Wilt,' her gentlemen who style themselves church.
.vuueiie are SO or not. I say that they are uot
churchwardens. They have not been sworn in.
men can say he is a churchwarden until he
%as ben sworn in ; und neither of tLeso gentle.
Mee are qualiti d to act until they have been to
Worcester to be sworn in—(imar, hear).
The Chairman : This no elm.; has been con.
veiled by Mr. broils and Mr. Jones, and they
are churchwardens.

Mr. Prescott: I thought after what had taken
elect-ie Stoorhridqe a week or ago, there
• o!,i hay, been atvs taken to wake this meet-
g legal.
the Chairioan : This twitter is irrelevant
We are met fur a specific purpose. We are not
wet to try whether churchwardens aro legally
churchwardens or not. We are not a court for
that purpose °lsar, hear). It is evident that
there must be some churchwardens for the busi-
ness of the parish to go on, and if the question
arises about illegal churchwardens, that must be
,:abluitted to another court.

Mr. Prescott objected that the Act provided
that the notice convening that meeting should
be signed by the churchwardens, Ministers, and
overseers. Those gentlemen who had signed
the notice were not the churchwardens for that
parish, and therefore, whatever wns transacted
there would be illegal.
Mr. Bernard said he had been asked by some
of the gentlemen there present to move the first
resolution, " That a burial ground shall be pro-
vided for the common use of the townships of
Upper Swinford and Stourbridge under the pro.
visions of the Acts 15 and 16 Vie., cap. 85, 16
sod 17 Vie., cap. 134, and 18 and 19 Vic., cap.
128. end all sanitary amendments of such Acts,
and that application be made to one of her Ma-
jesty's principal Secretorira of State for hit ap-
proval under the provisions of the Act 20 and 21
Vic., cap. 81, of an appointment of not lass than
three nor more than nine persons, being rate-
payers in respect of real property situate within
the sa;tl townships, to be the Burial Board of
such townships.- In support of that resolution
it would be necessary for him to say very little
indeed. Mr. Sherrard had shown very clearly
that an increase of burial room was absolutely
necessary. The common law of this country
had made no provision f..r anything of that kind.
It was only very lately that burial grounds and
churchyards were allowed in connection with
dissenting places of worship. He explained the
LIN with r.:,:uoCe 44) Burial 11,,ards, and said
the Act enabled them to convene a meeiihg to
test whether burial grounds shoubtbe -provlded,
, and that it also enact;l that the burial ground
Bhouid be paid for out of the rates. The Act
want on to say that pariah*. tniett jointopthar