_To the Editor of the_ DUDLEY GUARDIAN.
SIR,--In reference to the letters which have appeared in the
_Dudley Guardian_ for several weeks past signed "Veritas,"
and "Z."--such letters containing matters which are in many
instances preserved as historical records,--permit me to say
that some of the statements are very vague and indefinite.
We will take for instance Saint Thomas' Church, Dudley. Your
correspondent states it cost the sum of £24,000, raised partly
by rates and partly by voluntary contributions, also giving the
list of the donors, from which your correspondent omits many
old Dudley names. As there was more than one subscription list,
I beg to give you a copy of one of them:--
"Dudley Parish Church of St. Thomas.
_July 21st, 1814._
"At a meeting held at the time and place aforesaid, in
pursuance of public notice given on the preceding Sabbath
in both churches (the Rev. Dr. Booker in the chair), the
following resolutions were passed unanimously, to carry
into effect the pious intentions of the inhabitants of
Dudley, to erect a suitable parish church for the services
of the Almighty.
First.--That a committee be appointed, and that all
subscribers of forty pounds and upwards do constitute such
committee.
Secondly.--That the following form be immediately submitted
to the Right Honourable Lord Viscount Dudley and Ward, the
patron, for his lordship's concurrence and subscription, as
well as that of the inhabitants at large.
We, whose names are hereunder written, do hereby undertake
and promise to subscribe the several sums of money set
opposite to our respective names; the same to be applied
in taking down and rebuilding the Church of St. Thomas, in
Dudley, and for defraying other expenses incident thereto.
Which sums we do hereby severally agree to pay into the
hands of the Treasurer hereafter to be appointed, by ten
equal successive quarterly payments, the first quarterly
payment to be made on the 25th of January, 1815.
Each subscriber of twenty pounds and upwards to be entitled
to sittings to the amount of one-half of his subscription;
the value of such sittings to be fixed by the Commissioners
appointed under the Act of Parliament: the other half of
the subscription to be a sacred gift applied towards the
erection of the church.
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. £ s. d.
L. Booker, vicar, who, by a plan he means to adopt
and hopes to realize, trusts this sum will be
augmented to not less than £200[38] 120 0 0