The Birmingham Association 1764

MINUTES of the ASSOCIATION.

On Monday Evening, the Messengers being met, some Time was improved in Prayer, and the Letters from the several Churches read. A private Meeting for Prayer and Conference, relative to the Affairs of the Churches, was held on Tuesday Morning. The publick Meeting was opened at 10 o'Clock by Brother John Butterworth; [1727-1803, Coventry] Brother James Butterworth [d 1794?? Bromsgrove] proceeded in Prayer; Brother Beddome preached from 2 Cor. i. 14.; Brother [John] Knight [Warwick, from Moreton in Devon then Cork] then prayed; Brother [John] Ash [c 1724-1779 Pershore] preached from Acts viii. 5, 6, 7, 8; and Brother [Philip] Jones [d 1771 Upton] concluded in Prayer, and dismissed the Assembly.

We met together the same Evening for Prayer, and to review the State of the Churches, and appointed Brother [James] Turner to draw up the Circular Letter. On Wednesday Morning the Circular Letter was read, and approved, and the Moderator [John Poynting 1719-1791, Worcester] closed the Solemnity with Prayer.

The next Association to be at Bourton on the Water; to meet on Tuesday Evening in the Whitsun Week. Brother [James] Turner [1726-1780, Birmingham] and Brother [John] M'Gowan [1726-1780, Bridgnorth] to preach, and in Case of Failure, Brothers [Isaac] Woodman [d 1777, Sutton in the Elms] or [Daniel or Joshua] Thomas. [Henley-in-Arden or Leominster]

N. B. As it hath pleased God to remove out of this World of Sin and Sorrow our beloved Brother, John Overbury, and as the Church late under his Care, is by this affecting Providence, left destitute; we earnestly entreat the Sister Associate Churches, to give them all the Assistance in their Power; not only by their Counsels and Prayers, but by sending them Supplies.

Rebuilding 1764

In Pictures from the past Thomas Brooks writes

We have seen our fathers building a new chapel in 1701, erecting a house for their minister in 1741, "enlarging and repairing" the chapel in 1748, and strengthening the same in 1750. We must now notice a work which exceeds in magnitude either of the preceding. The following extract from the church-book, will set it clearly before us
 

"Oct 10, 1764. We entered upon a subscription for enlarging and rebuilding our meeting house, in which Mr. Snook was the principal actor, and of which he was the most generous promoter. The old meeting-house, though altered and enlarged, was neither convenient nor sufficiently capacious, yet most were contented. However, through the indefatigable application of Mr Snook, the new building was erected."
 

The dimensions of this new chapel were forty feet by thirty-five within the walls. The materials of the old chapel were made available as far as possible, or prudent, and exclusive of these, the cost of the new building was, £473 14s. l0d. Toward this sum, £69 were received as "Benefactions from abroad." These were almost exclusively from London. Dr. Stennett procured and sent twenty guineas; George Baskerville, Esq., contributed ten guineas, and sent ten guineas more for a friend of his. Of the £404 raised by the church and congregation, Mr. Snook gave £128 7s., i.e., £100, and the pulpit, sounding-board, &c., which cost £28 7s. Mr. Beddome contributed £30, and the rest was raised by smaller subscriptions, ranging from £20 to 5s.

It must not be overlooked, however, that much work was given, as well as money. And but for this the cost of the building would have appeared to be much greater.

"Mr Snook employed his team and servants almost continually. Mr. Boswell sent his team twenty-four days; Dr Paxford twenty-four days; Mr Truby five days; Thomas Cresser one day; John Strange six days; Mr Eadburn two days; Mr Hurbert six days; Robert Taylor two days; Mr Bosbery one day; William Wood two days; John Hurbert, labourer, gave a week's work, and John Phillips gave the same with self and horse."
 

The new chapel appears to have been opened in August, 1765. In that year the Association met at Bourton, and as the new chapel would not be ready at Whitsuntide it was agreed to defer the meeting to Wednesday, August 14th.