I wish the Gallery to be so constructed as may best answer the wants of the inhabitants, especially the householders, while the Parish Church is being built. If close pews will be most eligible for the purpose during that time, I have no objection to their being put up by the persons wanting them, under the direction of yourself and the Churchwardens, provided the pews be so formed as to be capable of being altered hereafter, as I may think proper.
I am, my dear Sir,
Yours sincerely,
DUDLEY AND WARD.
Himley, November 4th, 1815.
The following correspondence is a valuable compendium to Dudley lore—
DUDLEY DURING THE LAST SIXTY YEARS.
To the Editor of the Dudley Guardian.
Sir,—In my former letters to you I have given an account of what took place and about the old Parish Church, in this I shall give some information respecting the present church, which is so great an ornament to the town. The foundation stone was laid in the year 1816, and finished building in the year 1819, at a cost of £24,000, raised partly by rates and partly by voluntary contributions. The following is a list of the donors:—