Thylacine
master brummie
By the early 19th century, the sad state of the 1735 Deritend Chapel had become a matter of public controversy. The following is a somewhat edited extract from a letter to the editor of the Gentleman's Magazine (June 1818). The author, who signs himself "Orthodox", gives a general history of the Deritend Chapel, and makes the intriguing remark: "A sketch of the building has been preserved as it is said to have stood about the year 1590". After telling us "that the present annual income is generally understood to be about £400", he concludes:
The Chapel is of brick, with stone casings to the doors and windows, and calculated to contain upwards of 1,100 persons conveniently; but, from its situation, incapable of enlargement, although the great and increasing population of the neighbourhood renders more accommodation absolutely necessary. The building, for want of funds exclusively appropriated to its repairs, has been suffered to run into rather a dilapidated state, and probably would now require £1,000-1,500 to repair it thoroughly; and, if delayed much longer, the expenses of such a measure will be enormous: whether other means will be found for these repairs, or whether the inhabitants will bring forward the requiring necessity, and compel the Trustees to expend the rents of the Rowley Estate for the purpose, time will show; but that the necessity does require immediate repairs is allowed by all; and surely it will be unjust towards any succeeding Minister, if he is allowed to find his Chapel dilapidated immediately on election. The necessity imperiously calls upon the Trustees and inhabitants to find other means for the purpose, or upon the Trustees to execute the Trusts created by the original Grantor; and if they wilfully fail in their duty, it is understood that the Estate will revert to the Grantor's heir at law. A sinking fund seems to present itself as a proper mode in future by which the Chapel may be repaired, and the incumbent very little oppressed.
I take this opportunity of submitting to the Inhabitants of Deritend and Bordesley, friends of the Established Church, the propriety, if not necessity, of a new, large, and in part a free Chapel. There is no accommodation for the poorer classes, who are consequently driven to Conventicles; and, if a proper erection was made, many, no doubt, would be retained within the fold, and others reclaimed. Somewhere about the upper end of Bordesley, or Bradford-street, seems a desirable situation, and the present is certainly a most apt time. Very material assistance may be obtained from the National Fund, by early application; and I feel great confidence that a subscription, fully equal to the objects in view, would be readily entered into by the wealthy and liberal inhabitants.
I take this opportunity of submitting to the Inhabitants of Deritend and Bordesley, friends of the Established Church, the propriety, if not necessity, of a new, large, and in part a free Chapel. There is no accommodation for the poorer classes, who are consequently driven to Conventicles; and, if a proper erection was made, many, no doubt, would be retained within the fold, and others reclaimed. Somewhere about the upper end of Bordesley, or Bradford-street, seems a desirable situation, and the present is certainly a most apt time. Very material assistance may be obtained from the National Fund, by early application; and I feel great confidence that a subscription, fully equal to the objects in view, would be readily entered into by the wealthy and liberal inhabitants.