Reference
BY9/2
Title
Minute Book
Date free text
1836 - 1863
Production date
From: 1836 To: 1863
Scope and Content
Includes interesting details, e.g.
p.18 Trustees absent from meetings shall forfeit 6d.; Old Meeting to be licensed according to new marriage act, 1836;
p.26 Improvements 'as to the manner of Publick Worship - such as to standing at the last time of singing - a Pause before Prayer - a Pause after the close & c';
p.29 Estimates sought for lighting the Meeting by gas; p.40 estimate for gas £50 'or Guineas ... desirable it should be done', 1837;
p.35 Assistant required for minister, Rev. S. Hillyard - two colleges to be approached;
p.36 Mention of 'Benevolent Society'; Mr White appointed Secretary & Treasurer of Missionary Society and to 'adopt new regulations for Increasing the Funds';
p.37 Revd. M Brenand invited to preach three or four weeks on approbation;
p.40 Trustees forfeits for absence collected (6/-) and paid to Treasurer for relief of the poor;
p.41 'Gas Subscription to be collected immediately;
p.42 Left to church to decide if Rev. M. Brennands invitation which had expired should be renewed; annual subscription should be commenced for an assistant minister - with amounts subscribed at the meeting;
p.43 Unanimous agreement - Rev. Brennand's invitation extended - he to be paid £2 per week;
p.45 Rev M. Brennand gave notice 'he should no longer continue to preach ...till Mr Hillyard could be provided with an assiatant';
p.47 'Agreed that Mr Day be informed that the Trustees wish in future that he discontinue the Use of his Clarionet and that he be requested to unite in singing with the Choir'; 'That flannel garments be provided for about ten Poor Old Women of the Church or Congregation', 1838;
p.49 Two gas brackets on the pillars be moved nearer 'the Singing Pew';
p.56 'Agreed that Subscriptions should be entered into by the Church and Congregation to defray the Expences of the Funeral of our late Pastor'; p.57 A church meeting will be called when the Trustees are in a position to recommend 'a fit person on probation' as pastor 'as soon (as) our Bretheren of the Church are disposed cordially to unite with us in seeking out for another Pastor';
p.60 'Mr Wing prepare a Tomb for Mr. Hillyard not exceeding £25';
p.64 The 'Black hangings of the Pulpit, Gallery &c be taken down the last week in the Year. The Cloth of the Pulpit to be preserved as formerly. The Hangings of the Gallery belong to the Dorcas Society having been purchased by them. The Hangings of the Desk to be given to the Dorcas Society';
p.65 'Mr Ashton be employed to take down the Hangings of the Pulpit & Gallery ....Mrs Hillyards pew hangings continue for the present'. (This latter minute dated 30 Dec 1839 - Rev. S. Hillyard died in March).
p.66 'Mr Chapman confer with the Singers as to the future player on the Clarionett &c';
p.73 'Mr Green to pay Williamson One Quarter's Salary in advance & for him to return the Clarionet belonging to the Trustees'; 'agreed for (blank) to sett the tunes Morning & Evening for One Year if required - at the rate of £10 Per Annum & for him to pay Gothard for the afternoon of each Sabbath'; 1840
p.75 Resolution as to burial and fees in the Meeting Yard;
p.80 Collection be made for the Infirmary; 'a Congregational Benefit or Charitable Club be formed;
p.81 'That the Old 12 light Chandelier be presented to the Trustees of Shillington Chapel; 4 guineas
be allowed to the Sunday Schools towards the rent of the Castle Rooms; 1841
p.82 'Ordered that the Name of S. Whitbread Esq. be erased from the Chandelier sent to Shillington Chapel. Also
that the same be requested of Revd Mr Frost and his Friends from their Chandelier' (Cotton End Baptist Church), 1842;
p.99 Mr Ashton be informed that Complaints have been made of Dust on seats &c - Cobwebs - Lamp glasses - & be requested to oil the Door hinges, 1844;
p.108 'Agreed to discontinue the New Chapel in New Town (Kempston)...Mr Joyce be allowed Five Pounds towards the repairs of the Foundation & of the Roof'; Mr. Ward, Mr Rose & Mr Prole, junr. be requested to take the lead of the Singing in the Congregation', 1845;
p.111 Mr Joyce be now paid £5 towards repairs of Kempston Chapel;
p.112 'That 21/- be paid to (blank) Ward for Setting Tunes to present time & that the next quarter he be paid 30/- to Midsummer':
'That reference be made to the agreement with Mr Ashton respecting the washing every pew & Cleaning Windows once a Year - & the dusting the Cushions - Basses - Cobwebbs - Gas glasses & c'; The Castle Rooms Committee prepared to sell the Castle Rooms to the Trustees for £500 - subject to be considered, 1846;
p.122 The Revd. Jn Jukes delivered a message from Thos Kilpin asking to be relieved, because of old age and infirmity, from the duties of Secretary and Treasurer of the Trustees, a positions he had held for 62 years. Followed by a glowing minute to his faithful service 'as a Memorial for future times';
p.124 Mr W.W. Kilpin, son of the above, invited to attend Trustees Meetings 'until a New Trust deed shall be made and his name can be entered therein'; Mr Thos Kilpin died on the day of the next Trustees Meeting, 22 Mar 1848, (aged 80);
p.129 A fire-proof chest with three locks be purchased for the trust deeds and kept in the minister's house - the minister and two trustees to hold the keys;
p.137 Mr Brashier to arrange for the occupation of the New Rooms (Harpur Street) during the erection of the new chapel - the last Sunday the congregation shall worship in the old chapel shall be Sunday 14 Jan 1849 - the sale of the old materials to be on the following Thursday; p.140 Agreed to lease the New Rooms for forty Sundays for £25; 'Mr Miller to take charge of the two dials, the one now in the Vestry to be fixed pro tempore in the Castle Rooms';
p.141. Mr Wing to dismantle Mr Hillyard's tomb and take care of it, also to remove the other stones in a line with it and place them at the back of the burial ground.
p.187 Chairman, Wm. White 'made a statement to the effect that as he had left Bunyan Chapel it was his wish not to attend Meetings of Trustees and that if he were relieved of all pecuniary responsibilities he should not attend...';
p.188 'The Chairman (Wm. White) announced that he wished to resign his office of Chairman and that he should not preside after this Meeting', 1853;
p.194 Vote of thanks to Brother Brashier 'having expressed a wish to retire from public Business in consequence of his personal affliction' - his services gratefully acknowledged 'especially in getting the burial ground elevated so much above its former level, at so great an expence of time and trouble to himself, and so small a cost to the Congregation'; Thanks to the Revd. Jn Jukes who has offered to give up £50 per annum from his salary and his usual new year's gift in aid of a fund for a 'Co-Pastor' to assist him in the ministry (pp.194 - 5 1854).
p.199 Meeting closed for painting - services to be held in the Bedford Rooms;
p.225 Complaints 'relative to the singing in the Public Services of Bunyan Meeting';
p.226 Mr. paid off as leader - Mr Purcell to conduct the singing for a few weeks to 'ascertain whether he can undertake it personally'.
p.234 £5 to Mr Purcell 'for conducting the Psalmody ...on Sabbath Days',1857;
p.237 Mr. Carter would resign as pew rent collector 'in consequence of his defective sight';
p.242 'The name of Mrs. Hillyard (widow of the late Revd. S. Hillyard) be inscribed upon her husbands tomb', 1859;
p.247 Agreed that the singer's pew be altered, 1860;
p.266 Death of treasurer, Mr. Ben Prole and expression of sympathy to family, 1863."
Level of description
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