Congregational.—­How the Independents sprang from the Presbyterians, and the Congregationalists from them, is hardly matter of local history, though Carr’s Line Chapel has sheltered them all in rotation.  The first building was put up in 1747-48, and, with occasional repairs lasted full fifty years, being rebuilt in 1802, when the congregation numbered nearly 900.  Soon after the advent of the Rev. John Angell James, it became necessary to provide accommodation for at least 2,000, and in 1819 the chapel was again rebuilt in the form so well known to the present generation.  The rapidity with which this was accomplished was so startling that the record inscribed on the last late affixed to the roof is worth quoting, as well on account of its being somewhat of a novel innovation upon the usual custom of foundation-stone memorial stone, and first-stone laying and fixing:—­

“Memoranda.  On the 30th day of July, 1819, the first stone of this building was laid by the Rev. John Angell James, the minister.  On the 30th day of October, in the same year, this the last slate was laid by Henry Leneve Holland, the builder, in the presence of Stedman Thomas Whitwell, the Architect.—­Laus Deo.”

In 1875-76 the chapel was enlarged, refronted, and in many ways strengthened and improved, at a cost of nearly L5,000, and it now has seats for 2,250 persons.—­Ebenezer Chapel, Steelhouse Lane, which will seat 1,200, was opened Dec. 9, 1818.  Its first pastor, the Rev. Jehoida Brewer, was the first to be buried there.—­The first stone of Highbury Chapel, which seats 1,300, was laid May 1, 1844, and it was opened by Dr. Raffles in the following October.—­Palmer Street Chapel was erected in 1845.—­The first stone of the Congregational Church in Francis Road was laid Sept. 11, 1855, the opening taking place Oct. 8, 1856.—­The first stone of the Moseley Road building was laid July 30, 1861, and of that in the Lozells, March 17, 1862.—­The chapel at Small Heath was commenced Sept. 19, 1867, and opened June 21, 1868; that at Saltley was began June 30, 1868, and opened Jan. 26, 1869.—­The chapel in Park Road, Aston, was began Oct. 7, 1873; the church on Soho Hill, which cost L15,000, was commenced April 9, 1878, and opened July 16, 1879.—­The memorial-stones of the church at Sutton Coldfield, which cost L5,500, and will seat 640, were laid July 14, 1879, the opening taking place April 5, 1880; the Westminster Road (Birchfield) Church was commenced Oct. 21, 1878, was opened Sept. 23, 1879, cost L5,500, and will seat 900; both of these buildings have spires 100ft. high.—­The foundation-stone of a chapel at Solihull, to accommodate 420, was laid May 23, 1883.—­Besides the above, there is the Tabernacle Chapel, Parade, chapels in Bordesley Street, Gooch Street, and St. Andrew’s Road, and others at Acock’s Green, Erdington, Handsworth, Olton, Yardley, &c.

Disciples of Christ erected a chapel in Charles Henry Street in 1864; in Geach Street in 1865; in Great Francis Street in 1873.