BIRMINGHAM.

OLD MEETING CHURCH, 

BRISTOL STREET.

  THE  first meeting house was built in Old Meeting Street, then called Phillip Street, in 1689, and was a plain building, with four gables.  It was partly destroyed in the Sacheverell. riots, on July 17th, 1715.  In 1747, a small section of the Congregation protested against -the teaching of Unitarianism, and being outvoted on the election of a new minister they withdrew and founded the  Congregation  which  now meets in Carrs Lane Chapel.  The Old Meeting was destroyed in the Priestley riots on July 14th, 1791, and was rebuilt on the same site, the Chapel being opened on the 4th October, 1795.  On the 7th October, 1885, the present Church was opened, the London and North Western Railway Company having acquired the buildings in Old Meeting Street for enlarging their Station.

Caryl Hubert has sent two photos of the interior of the Church

she says:  "These were passed on to me from my mother Lillie Wood.  I do hope you can find a way to preserve these for posterity."

Click on a picture to enlarge and then 'back' to return

Modern notes: Building bombed in WW2

I have been contacted by Caryl Hubert from Texas who is researching the life of her great grandfather Joseph Wood who is the last minister listed below. She says that:

"When Rev. Wood retired in 1912, the congregation of the Old Meeting House on Bristol Rd installed several stained glass windows in the church and dedicated them to him. I have an article from a Unitarian publication (From Dr. Williams Library) reporting the dedication to Joseph Wood and describing the windows in detail. I believe I have located the same panels at the Ely Cathedral Museum in London. Images can be seen at the website below.  There is no identification regarding their dedication to Joseph Wood, but it does state they came from the Old Meeting House on Bristol Road and are dated 1910-1912 with the artists information."

The panels can be viewed on line they are:

'St. Luke' http://www.stainedglassmuseum.com/collections/750401f.htm

'Angel Musicians'

http://www.stainedglassmuseum.com/collections/750402f.htm

MINISTERS.

 WILLIAM TURTON, M.A. 1686-1716

EDWARD BRODHURST     1714-1730 

Colleague-DANIEL GREENWOOD 1700-1730

DANIEL MATTOCK   1732-1746 

Colleagues-1. JOSEPH WILKINSON 1739-1756, 

2. SAMUEL CLARK 1756-1769

WILLIAM HOWELL 1746- 1770

RADCLIFFE SCHOLEFIELD   1772-1799 

Colleagues- 1. NATHANIEL NICKOLS   1779-1784.  

2. JOHN COATE 1785-1801  

ROBERT KELL    1801-1821 

Colleagues-1. JOHN CORRIE, F.R. 1817-1819,

2. STEPHEN WEAVER-BROWNE, B.A. 1819-1821 

HUGH HUTTON, M.A. 1822-1851

CHARLES CLARKE 1851-1882

BIRMINGHAM.               

CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH, 

BROAD STREET.

 ABOUT 1692 a Congregation was formed at the Lower Meeting House, Deritend.  It moved to the New Meeting in Moor Street, which was opened on April 19th, 1732.  Dr. Priestley was minister here from December 1780, to July, 1791, when his Chapel was destroyed in the Church and King riots.  The new building was opened on July 22nd, 1802.  On the removal to the Church of the Messiah in Broad Street,  at the end of 1861, the old Chapel was sold to the Roman Catholics.*

Modern notes: 

Church demolished, Congregation built a new Church known as

"New Meeting Church" in Ryland Street  

* It's interesting to note that the old Chapel which was sold to the Roman Catholics still exists, outliving the entire existence of the "Church of the Messiah" below are some modern photographs (click to enlarge)

This is an earlier picture

which shows how the

Church was built over

the canal tunnel

MINISTERS.

JOHN SILLITOE 1692-1704

THOMAS PICKARD 1705-1747

SAMUEL BOURN 1732-1754

SAMUEL BLYTH  1747-1791

WILLIAM HAWKES  1754-1780   

JOSEPH PRIESTLEY, LL.D. 1780-1791

JOHN EDWARDS  1791-1802    

DAVID JONES  1792-1795

JOHN KENTISH 1803-1853 

JOSHUA TOULMIN, D.D. 1804-1815   

JAMES YATES, M.A.  1817-1826   

JOHN REYNELL WREFORD,D.D. 1826-1831 

SAMUEL BACHE   1832-1868                    

HENRY ENFIELD DOWSON, B.A. 1863-1867

HENRY WILLIAM CROSSKEY, LL.D. 1869-1893

W. J. B. TRANTER 1884 - Home Missionary.

RICHARD THOMAS NICHOLSON Assistant Minister. 1889-1892

JAMES CROSSLEY 1892-1894

LAWRENCE PEARSALL JACKS, M.A. 1894-1903

JOHN WORSLEY AUSTIN, M.A. 1903-

NOTE.-It will be seen from the above dates that down to 1893 the Congregation generally had two Co-Pastors. 

BIRMINGHAM.

NEWHALL HILL CHURCH.

IN the year 1834, a dispute arose between the Sunday School Committee and the Teachers' Society connected with the New Meeting, the latter body resenting 

what they considered undue interference with their actions.  A deputation from each side met and discussed the matter, but they could come to no agreement.  The greater number of the male 

teachers left in August, and shortly afterwards opened the "New Unitarian Sunday School," in Cambridge Street

The cause prospered and more room was required.  A freehold site was bought in Newhall Hill, and the present Church and Schools were built, the total 

cost exceeding £4,000. 

The opening ceremony took place on the 10th July, 1840.  Various improvements have been. made in the buildings since their erection, first in 1856, then in 1878, and about £1,500 was spent in 1896, when the apse was put in, and the old organ was replaced by a new one.  

 MINISTERS.

JAMES CRANBROOK 1848-1850  

JAMES COOPER 1850-1851

ARCHIBALD FORBES MACDONALD, M.A. 1852-

JOHN CUCKSON1873-1881   

ROBERT LAIRD COLLIER, D.D.1881-1883   

SAMUEL FLETCHER WILLIAMS 1884-1889

WILLIAM MELLOR 1889-1892

ADDISON ALEXANDER CHARLESWIORTH 1893-1903

THOMAS PAXTON 1904-

From 1834 to 1848 and from 1852 to 1873 the Services were conducted by laymen.

BIRMINGHAM.

WAVERLEY ROAD CHURCH, 

SMALL HEATH.

    THE foundation stone of this Church was laid by the Rev. Stopford A. Brooke on the 20th January, 1898, and the formal opening took place on the 8th October in the same year.   During Mr. Sale's Ministry, the services were held in a Board School, first in Little Green Lane, and afterwards in Somerville Road. £900 of the cost of the Church was contributed by the Trustees of the Church of the Saviour, when they sold their Church to the Methodists.

The total cost was about £3,200, including the freehold site.  The pulpit is now vacant.

Modern note:  This building is now used by another Faith. 

The illustration shows the Church from the end as you enter from Waverley Road, looking towards the pulpit.  

The organ is hidden in a recess on the right.

 MINISTERS.

EDWARD JOSEPH SALE 1894-1895  

HENRY HARROLD JOHNSON, B.A.1897-1899

BIRMINGHAM.

CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH DOMESTIC MISSION,

LOWER FAZELEY STREET.

  A T the Annual Meeting of the New Meeting Sunday Schools, September the 17th, 1844, a resolution was passed to the effect that increased efficiency be given to the schools by establishing an evening school, and a plan for visiting the parents of the children and other poor persons in the district, and that it was particularly desirable to appoint a paid agent. 

The matter came before the Vestry Committee and the Congregation, and this was the origin of the New Meeting Ministry to the Poor, now known by the title above.  A house in "the Gullet" was taken in 1845, and licensed for worship in 1846.  It became too small for its purpose, and a house in Bailey Street was taken in 1847, and for the same reason a move was made to Lawrence Street in 1848, where there were a chapel and classrooms. 

In 1888, the Mission moved to its present quarters in Lower Fazeley Street, which had hitherto been occupied by the Free Christian Society (founded in 1861, by Sunday School Teachers from the New Meeting).  The freehold was purchased, in 1903. by subscription.  

Modern notes: 

This building has lain derelict for several years

but has now been restored and used as Fazeley Studios. 

Photos below courtesy of Fazeley Studios 

MINISTERS

JOHN GENT BROOKS 1844-1854     

RICHARD EDWARD DUNNE. 1854-1863     

JOHN WILSON  1863-1882

EDWARD THOMAS RUSSELL 1882-1886

FREDERICK TEASDALE REED 1887-1890   

THOMAS PIPE 1891 - 

BIRMINGHAM.

  THIS Mission was founded on the 17th February, 1840, by the Unitarian Association for the Midland Counties, which was afterwards called the Birmingham Unitarian Domestic Mission Society.  

The first chapel was in Thorp Street, leading out of Hurst Street.  It was a simple unpretentious building, made chiefly of wood.  

There were 151 subscribers, mainly belonging to the Congregations of the Old Meeting, the New Meeting and Newhall Hill Church.

A new chapel was built in Hurst Street in 1884, 

with schoolrooms underneath, and new schoolrooms were built in Wrottesley Street, behind the chapel, ten years later. 

Further extensions and alterations were made in 1859, 1870 and 1888.  

The large room on the first floor has been known for some years past as the People's Hall.  

MINISTERS

THOMAS BOWRING 1840-1853  

JOHN ROBERTSON 1853-1855     

BENJAMIN WRIGHT  1855-1881

JAMES BULLOCK GARDNER 1881-1885

WILLIAM JOSHUA CLARKE 1885-

BANBURY.

CHRISTCHURCH CHAPEL, 

HORSEFAIR.  

 SO far as has been ascertained, the first Unitarian Chapel was known as the Great Meeting House, 

and it stood in front of the land now occupied by the present Church. 

In 1850 the old building had become unfit for use.  The land behind it, belonging to the Congregation, was chosen as the site of the new Church. 

It was opened for public worship on the 16th August, 1850.  

The Congregation is at present without any Minister of its own.

Modern note: Congregation meet in the Town Hall

not sure about building. 

MINISTERS.

STEPHEN DAVIES 1709-1739                

GEORGE HAMPTON, M.A. 1739-1796    

HERBERT JENKINS (Assistant) 1792-1796    

PETER USHER 1796-1814  

CUBITT BOARDMAN HUBBARD  1815-1843 

HENRY HUNT PIPER  1843-1853

JAMES McDOWELL  1854-1863

CHARLES CASE NUTTER 1864-1884

DAVID HEAP 1884-1887

WILLIAM BIRKS 1887- 1888

HENRY HILL 1892-1900

COSELEY.

OLD MEETING HOUSE.

                 THE first meeting house was built in 17I7.  It was rebuilt in 1875, and opened on August10th of that year. The Ministers, who were appointed jointly for Coseley and the New Meeting, Birmingham, as referred to below, were the

               Revs. Thos. Pickard, Samuel Bourn, Samuel Blyth, and Wm. Hawkes.

Modern note: Still there and open.

MINISTERS.

JOSEPH ECCLESHALL  (?) 1662-1692

       ?       PEACH                                  

PAUL RUSSELL                               

GEORGE DOUGHTY 1720-1732

Joint Ministry with the New 1732-1761

Meeting, Birmingham                             

WILLIAM EDWARDS 1761-1775        

RICHARD AMNER 1775-1794

SAMUEL PARKER  1796-1797        

WILLIAM ALLARD  1798-1803        

EVAN OWEN JONES 1804-1807  

RICHARD FRY 1807-1812

JOHN SMALL 1812-1826

JOHN COOPER 1827-1835

JOHN GORDON 1837-1840

WILLIAM WHITELEGGE, M.A.1840-1842

JOHN FIFE MANDERSON 1842-1847

JOHN CALBRAITH LUNN 1847-1851

JOSEPH EEDES FLETCHER.1851-1854

WILLIAM ORR McGOWAN 1855-1863

HENRY EACHUS  1865-

CRADLEY.

PARK LANE CHAPEL, NETHEREND.

    THE first Meeting House was built in a field called Pensnet Meadow, and was opened in 1707. Like the first meeting house at Dudley it was burnt down in 1715 in the Sacheverell riots.  It was re-built in 1716, partly by Government aid.  It continued to be used till 1796 when the present chapel was opened.  This was built on a field in the middle of Netherend which had been bought by the Congregation a year or two before.  The old chapel was sold to the Wesleyan Methodists.  It may be mentioned that the Rev. Wm. Bowen, referred to below, married a granddaughter of Dr. Priestley.

 Modern note: Still there and open Read a lot more on

The Cradley Links website

MINISTERS.

JOSIAH BASSET  1704-1735 

JOSEPH FOWNES  1735-1748

NOAH JONES 1748-1762    

JOSEPH BAKER 1762-1789     

JAMES SCOTT 1789-1827    

BENJAMIN CARPENTER 1807-1816      

Mr. Carpenter was. minister of the Presbyterian Congregation

at Stourbridge, and Co-pastor at Cradley with Mr. Scott.

THOMAS WARREN  1817-1821

Succeeded Mr. Carpenter at Stourbridge as Co-pastor.

WILLIAM BOWEN, M.A.  1828-1850

WILLIAM COCHRANE 1850-1885

JOHN JAMES WRIGHT, Assistant 1883-1884

JAMES CROSSLEY  1885-1891

ARTHUR ELLIS O'CONNOR, B.D.  1891-1894

EDWARD POTTER HALL 1894-1902         

ARROWSMITH HYDE SHELLEY 1902-  

DUDLEY.  

OLD MEETING HOUSE, WOLVERHAMPTON STREET

  THE first meeting house was built in 1702.  It was burnt down in the Sacheverell riots on the 18th July, 1715.  A grant was obtained from Parliament for the re-building and it was finished in 1717 at a cost of about £300.  In 1869 the interior was a good deal altered and renovated.

The old high pews were replaced by new ones and a new organ was built, the total cost being about £1,000.  

Dr. Priestley preached the Dudley Double Lecture here in the year 1780, and he was also present at the Lecture in1787 and 1788.

Modern note: Still there and open, interior changed.   

MINISTERS.

JOHN SOUTHWELL  (?) 1667-1688       

WILLIAM WILLETTS 1688-1700    

JOSEPH STOKES (?) 1701-1743    

JAMES HANCOX 1733-1769  

WILLIAM DENNY WOOD 1771-1804          

JAMES HEWS BRANSBY 1805-1828     

SAMUEL BACHE 1829-1832 Went to New Meeting, Birmingham.

JOHN PALMER, B.A. 1833-1852  

RICHARD SHAEN, M.A. 1852-1855

SAMUEL COULTER DAVISON, Ph.D. 1857-1860

JOHN THOMAS, M.A. 1860-1861

MATTHEW GIBSON 1861-1886

HAROLD RYLETT 1887-1889

JOHN BRIGGS LLOYD 1890-1892

ARROWSMITH HYDE SHELLEY 1893-1902

GEORGE ST. CLAIR, F.G.S.  (pro.tem.) 1902-1903

ALFRED THOMPSON 1904-