| Description | It is unclear exactly when the Meetings of the Congregation of the New Meeting were established, but documentation in the surviving minute book (UC 2/3/6/1/1) would suggest that they began in 1771. The meeting was made up of representatives of the congregation of the New Meeting and, later, the Church of the Messiah, Birmingham, often to consider and approve general business brought forward by the minister (see UC 2/3/1), the churchwardens (see UC 2/3/2) or representatives of the Vestry Committee (see UC 2/3/3). Such business could include the appointment of new Ministers or other church officials, approval of major building works and alterations to be carried out on the church and its buildings, or the administration of associated charities, Sunday Schools and other institutions. For example, the minutes of the first recorded meeting of 29 July 1771 considered the procuring of a plan and estimate for the proposed enlargement and alterations to be made to the vestry and a plan for enclosing the church grounds. The meetings continued to take place on a monthly basis until 1868, with some gaps evidenced in the minute book. From 1869 the next minute book recorded the meetings as taking place on an annual basis (see UC 2/3/7). |