The Wesleyan Church at Birmingham

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 36, 10 September 1892, Page 2

The Wesleyan Church at Birmingham

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) The opening services in connection with the Birminghan Wesleyan Church were a great success. The weather was all that could be desired, and large congregations were present at all the services. Appropriate sermons were preached on Sunday by the Revs. Stewart and Keall. ' The singing was excellent and the total , amount of collections for the day was £7 15s 6d. The soiree and public meeting were held on Wednesday. The Rev Mr Keall preached in the afternoon at 4.30. A very large number sat down to tea at 6 o'clock. The tea waR a firstclass one, and the best ever held here, It was feared that the grand things provided would not stand the strain made upon them. They held out. however, and everybody seemed well satisfied. A special feature was the bachelor's table, which was superintended by Messrs Palmer and Ashton and provided by young men of the district. The public meeting was held in the church, the chair being taken by Mr Keall. The meeting was opened by the chairman who said he would have to appear in many lights, as several speakers had disappointed them. However, they had a good programme and a splendid audience, so he thought they would have a good time. The first item was a solo with chorus by Mr Birks, which was well rendered. The balance sheet was next read by the Chairman, which was very satisfactory. Great praise was due to the Birmingtlim friends for the way in which they hall worked, and it was hoped that with the proceeds of the tea and meeting the church would be opened free of debt. The church and fittings were valued at i-250. Mr Ludlow Birch next gave a recitation " So Loved ' in a very pleasing manner. The choir rendered a hymn. The chairman gave a very practical and able speech, in which he said that a great deal of nonsense had been talked about the site on which the church was erected. He had no patience with such narrow-minded Christianity. Their church did them credit and they had good reason to be proud of it. The choir next sang " I will " from Christian Choir. Mr Webb, of Wellington, then gave an excellent speech containing some witty points, which were much appreci- < ated by the audience. Mr Birks then sang "Low at Thy feet," which was.followed by a recitation by Mr B. Auiesbury. " There the trumpet loudly calling " was next rendered by the choir in first-class style. Mr Birks in his speech reviewed the work of the past year and felt thankful for the measure of success which had attended their efforts. They were well equipped for work, and he asked for the continued sympathy and help of his audience. Mr Anyon then made a speech in which he stated he was the first to start services in Birmingham on behalf of the Methodist Church. Some people thought that he went too fast, but they had accomplished their object. Mr Birks proposed a vote of thanks to those who nnd helped them to build their church. He had never met with such practical sympathy as he had received in this district. Votes of thanks were then moved to the following collectors : — Miss A. Lowes, £52 3s ; Mrs Anyon, £5 15s ; Mr E. Miller, £5 15s; Mrs McNair, £2 ; Mrs Moffatt, £1 ; total, £66 13s. To the following for the gifts :— Mr Lowes, site of land; Mr Cobbe, matting for floor; Mr Anyon, bible ; Mr Keall, hymn book ; Mr Eade, table; Mrs Anyon, table cloth; Mrs Anyon, repp for rostrum ; Mrs Lowes, stone font ; Miss Lowes, matting for rostrum ; Miss Bellve, cushion for desk ; Messrs Stanton and Alexander for clearing site ; Mr Daw for free carriage of parcels. It is needless to say that these votes of thanks were heartily carried. The tea was given by the following ladies : — Mesdames McNair, Lowes, Moffatt, Guy, Anyon, Richardson, Wishaw, Morton and Burne. The bachelors table was given by Messrs Ashton, Tapp, Palmer, and others, and was presided over by the Mrs Lowes and Miss P. Lowes. The following ladies presided at the other tables : — Miss A. Lowes, Miss Mills, Mesdames Wishaw, McNair, Low, Morton, and Miss Wishaw. Mr Guy said he had never been in any place where a church had been built so easily. Mr Fergusson aaid he was surprised when he entered the building. The church far exceeded his expectations, and when it was furnished as regards painting it would be second to none in the district. The Methodists had been the first to take the work in hand, and were deserving of sympathy. Mr Birks personally thanked Mr Burne for the use of a horse for the past year. The total proceeds for the services and tea will be about £22. I have omitted to mention two oth'er items in the programme, recitations by Messrs Moss and Birks. The meeting was concluded by tinging the Doxology.