LAYING A FOUNDATION STONE: The foundation stone of a Particular Baptist Chapel and schools, Jew’s Lane, Lower Gornal, was laid by Miss Parker, on Thursday afternoon, upon which occasion a large number of persons were present....
A bottle containing copies of The Times, Birmingham Daily Post, Birmingham Daily Gazette, and the Gospel Standard was then placed in a cavity under the stone, and Miss Parker having spread the mortar with a silver trowel....
....The origin of the church dates back to August, 1834, which then consisted of the following members: John Oakley, Ephraim Bennett, Joseph Marson, Mary Marson, Joseph Oakley, Hannah Bennett, Ellen Bennett, Sarah Bennett, and Susannah Bennett, all of whom formerly belonged to Ruiton Independent Chapel, and who left in consequence of Ephraim Bennett being expelled on account of some disagreement with the minister. They were baptised by Mr. Bridge at the Coppice chapel, and afterwards formed into a church, meeting in a room in Lower Gornal, where they were all occasionally supplied by ministers of the neighbourhood. They were soon obliged to take a larger room, In the year 1839 Mr. Burns first commenced his labours, which were so blessed that that room was quite inadequate for the number attending. This led to the purchase of a piece of land in Turner Street for the chapel, and was vested the names of the following trustees by deed dated December 21st, 1840: Theophilus Caddick, Thomas Underhill, Abel Oakley, Ephraim Bennett, Benjamin Wall, Edward Fellows, John Turner, Cornelius Flavell, Abel Burton, and Job Flavell. In the following year the old chapel was built and opened, Mr. Kershaw preaching ohe ocasion. The church and congregation have continued to worship there until the present time under the pastorate of Mr. Burns.
During the above period a Sabbath school has been opened, numbering, with teachers, 172, which, together with church of 42 members, and an increasing and attached congregation, has rendered for the last few years the above chapel quite insufficient in accommodation. The necessity of finding increased accommodation has seriously occupied the attention of the congregation, but on account of their poverty it was deferred from time to time....
Messrs. Bidlake and Fleming, architects, of Wolverhampton, were employed to prepare the plans, and in January last the contract for building was let to Mr. Nelson, of Dudley..... The size of the buildings will be 81 feet by 36 feet. The style will be plain Gothic, and will cost about £1,400 exclusive of site. Accommodation will be provided for about 400 persons in the chapel, and 200 children in the school-rooms. There will he a gallery all round the chapel with open seats on the ground floor.