Earl of Dudley, then Viscount Dudley and Ward:

Park Lane, February 14th, 1826.

"It was all along my intention to do more than I engaged to do towards rebuilding the church at Sedgley, provided the parish shewed itself willing to contribute handsomely.

"The subscription has not fallen short of my expectations; and what I now propose is to rebuild the parish church at my own sole expense, upon the plan already agreed upon, with this condition; that the subscribers to the church should agree to transfer their subscriptions to the intended chapel. In that case there is no doubt but that the Society for Building Churches, would consent to apply their 500l. to the same purpose, and the commissioners for disposing of the sum given by Parliament would give such an addition as would defray the expense of building a chapel large enough to contain 2000 persons.

"If this plan meets with your own approbation, I will beg of you, as one of those that shewed the most zeal in promoting the subscription, to take such steps as you think necessary for communicating it to the body of subscribers, and ascertaining whether they will consent to it."

This proposition was acceded to, with thankfulness, on the part of the parishioners. And upon the strength of the subscription to be transferred, His Majesty's Commissioners for Building Churches undertook to build a church at Coseley. In the spring of 1826, the benefice of Sedgley, which had been nearly six months vacant, was filled up. And Lord Dudley, who

had waited to submit his plans to the new vicar, commenced the work of rebuilding the parish church, laying the first stone on the 9th of September, 1826.

The following inscription was deposited with the stone:

ECCLESIAM DE SEDGLEY

VETUSTATE LABEFACTATAM

AMPLIOREM A SOLO RESTITUIT

JOHANNES GULIELMUS VICECOMES DUDLEY ET

The old church was not capable of accommodating more than 404 persons, and these all in appropriated seats. The new one holds in pews 595, in free seats 714; total 1309. It was built from plans supplied by the late Thomas Lee, jun., Esq., architect; at an expense exceeding 10,0007. It was opened for divine service on July 6th, 1829; but as some part of the old tower remained, it did not require fresh consecration. It bears the following inscription over the west

entrance:

REBUILT BY

JOHN WILLIAM
EARL OF DUDLEY
JULY 6
1829.

* Which may be thus translated: Sedgley Church being ancient and in ruinous condition, was rebuilt and enlarged by

Five gentlemen, resident in the neighbouring parishes, were appointed under a faculty to allot the pews. Their award is deposited with the Bishop's registrar at Lichfield. And a duplicate of the award is in the charge of the Vicar of Sedgley.

The parochial church committee, relieved by Lord Dudley's bounty from the burden of their original undertaking, resolved upon furnishing and adorning the new church with an organ, and stained glass for the east window. They have also effected some other improvements and em. bellishments; as the removal of the pulpit and desk to a more convenient situation, the erection of a sounding board, and the addition of lanterns in the ceilings of the side galleries, for the admission of light and air. The funds devoted to these objects were chiefly raised by congregational collections. The expenditure of the committee has exceeded 860%.

In pursuance of the plan suggested in the letter of Lord Dudley, application was made to His Majesty's Commissioners, for aid in building a new church at Coseley, for the accommodation of the most populous part of the parish of Sedgley. And upon consideration of the case, they determined upon building a church to hold 2000 persons, which has since been consecrated, by the name of Christ Church, Coseley. Towards the expense of building this church the Commissioners expected to receive the parochial subscription, which by a letter, bearing date November

John William, Viscount Dudley and Ward; who began this work on the 9th September, 1826; the then Vicar being C. Girdlestone; the churchwardens J. T. Fereday, and J. White; the architect, T. Lee.

17th, 1825, was reported to them as amounting to 26001. Owing however to the death of some parties, and to the failure of others, the committee have been unable to collect more than 21521. 9s. Od.; the whole of which has been paid over to the Commissioners; the names of both the paid and unpaid subscriptions being duly entered in the church committee book, deposited at the vicarage. Notwithstanding this deficiency, His Majesty's Commissioners completed the church, as originally proposed. The first stone was laid by the late diocesan, Bishop Ryder, on the 9th of August, 1827, bearing the following inscription:

AUGUST THE NINTH

IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED
AND TWENTY SEVEN

THIS FIRST STONE WAS LAID BY

HENRY LORD BISHOP OF LICHFIELD AND COVENTRY THE GROUND GIVEN BY

JOHN WILLIAM VISCOUNT DUDLEY AND WARD AND THROUGH THEIR ENCOURAGEMENT THE BUILDING UNDERTAKEN

BY VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTION

WITH THE AID OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF
HIS MAJESTY GEORGE THE FOURTH.

It contains in pews 768, in free seats 1231; total, 1999.

The architect was T. Lee, junior, esq. The cost of the building, by contract, was 95571. 7s. 1d. It was consecrated in 1830.

The parish had to fence and furnish it, as well as to provide a residence for the minister, and

some endowment in aid of the scanty income arising from the pew rents. Considering the difficulties thus entailed upon them, and weighing also this circumstance, that the population of the parish is spread over an extensive district, it is much to be regretted, that the large sum laid out in Coseley Church, was not spent in building and endowing two churches of more moderate dimensions.

It was in the fencing and furnishing the new churches at Sedgley and Coseley, that the late churchwardens incurred a very heavy debt, by several successive orders of vestry; for the payment of which expenses a rate was afterwards granted. But advantage having been taken of some supposed technical informalities in the rate, several parties refused to pay their assessment. The churchwardens were thus left personally responsible for a debt, amounting to a thousand pounds and more, a great part of which is still unpaid.

St. James's Church Lower Gornall, built as a chapel of ease to the parish of Sedgley, was commenced in the year 1815, opened for divine service in 1817, and consecrated in 1823; then containing in pews 297, in free seats 303; total 600. It cost about 1000l. The expense of its erection was defrayed by public subscription; the chief contributor being Viscount Dudley and Ward, father of the late Earl, who also endowed it with land and building, to the amount of 157. annual income, besides the pew rents, which average 301. more.

By the deed of endowment it is provided that one fifth part of this income shall be available for the repairs of the building; the patronage of