A few other particulars regarding St. Thomas’s Church may be interesting to your readers. Mr. Brooks, of London, was the architect, and Daniel Evans, London, the builder. The following is a statement how the builder was to be paid:—
| £ s. d. | |
| On laying foundation stone | 500 0 0 |
| When the several walls are built level with the second plinth | 500 0 0 |
| When the walls are built up to the gallery, and the timbers of the gallery put on and the tower of Church built level with bell ringers’ floor | 1,500 0 0 |
| When walls are built up to raising plates, the window frames fixed in, and the tower level with the bell loft | 1,000 0 0 |
| When the roof is wholly put on, and the gutters laid, the battlements and upper roof put on, the roof wholly finished, and the tower level with the base of the pinnacles | 1,500 0 0 |
| When the pinnacles are finished, the ground floor joists and small joists of the gallery are laid, and the ribs for ceilings are finished | 1,000 0 0 |
| When the second coat of plastering is put on, floors of gallery and ground floors are laid, and gallery fronts are fixed up, and staircases erected | 1,000 0 0 |
| When the whole of the said buildings and erections are completely finished | 1,500 0 0 |
| And when Architect shall have certified that the whole of the work is finished to his satisfaction | 1,400 0 0 |
| Six months after completion | 200 0 0 |
| —————— | |
| £10,100 0 0 |
The builder of the organ was Mr. Thomas Elliot, of London, and cost, with fixing, &c., complete, £1025. The order was given for the organ in 1817, and some parties were not satisfied at the position in which it was to be placed. Viscount Dudley and Ward was written to early in 1818, asking if he would allow it to be placed in the Chancel gallery which would prevent great inconvenience in going into and coming out of the Church. The reply of Viscount Dudley and Ward to Dr. Booker was:—
“I beg leave to repeat to you that my mind is unaltered and unalterable with respect to the situation of the organ, and that I shall not, by any means give my consent to its being placed in the Chancel gallery.” Dated Himley, February 5th, 1818.
After this letter from Viscount Dudley and Ward, Mr. Brooks and Mr. Elliot were consulted. The result was Mr. Elliot informed Dr. Booker that he would construct the movements of the organ so as to leave a handsome entrance through the middle of the organ, and if the plan was carried out Mr. Elliot considered the organ would have a grand appearance.
The organ being made for the situation it now occupies, and the protest of the Viscount Dudley and Ward against it being put elsewhere, it is to be hoped a fixed determination will be made against any party or parties wishing it moved from its present situation—In fact, I have no hesitation in saying it will spoil the appearance of the church.
The magnificent Altar Window, painted by Blackler of London, was commenced in 1818 and finally completed and placed in the church in Sept., 1821. The original estimate for this splendid window was 500 guineas, and which Mr. Blackler, in a letter, states was but a moderate calculation for the work. Mr. Brooks, however, assured him that such a sum would be considered far too high, he therefore undertook to execute the window for one hundred guineas less than his first estimate, and the expense of fitting up and completing the window in the church was to be fifty guineas extra. The window is a masterpiece, and the Dudley people may well be proud that they obtained the same at so small a cost.
| The bells, clock, and palisading cost (after allowing for old bells) | £1120 0 0 |
| Other sundries about | 400 0 0 |
| ————— | |
| £1520 0 0 | |
| ————— |
Your correspondent will see by the above items that the Church did not cost £24,000. Your correspondent also states that a leading man of the town of that day had a jolly bargain at the expense of the parishioners, having bought the materials of the old church, which he was to pay for when he fetched the last load away. This I presume he has stated on hearsay, not from any foundation on fact. The person referred to could well afford to pay for anything he contracted for, and I do not think the Dudley people at the time would allow him to go scot free, or would they make such a foolish bargain as stated. I also see the party hinted at gave £50 towards the new Church.
In conclusion allow me to say Dr. Booker at the time worked hard for the building of the new Church. He was a good sound churchman, also an author of several works on various subjects, his name to the present day is an household word, and Saint Thomas’ Church remains a monument to him as first Vicar.