Unitarians.—­The building known for generations as the Old Meeting, is believed to have been the first Dissenting place of worship erected in Birmingham; and, as its first register dates from 1689, the chapel most likely was built in the previous year.  It was doubtless but a small building, as in about ten years (1699) a “Lower Meeting House” was founded in Meeting House Yard, nearly opposite Rea Street.  The premises occupied here were gutted in the riots of 1715, and the owner promised the mob that it should no more be used as a chapel, but when calmer he repented and services were held until the New Meeting House in Moor Street was opened.  The rioters in 1715 partly destroyed the old Meeting and those of 1791 did so completely, as well as the New Meeting, which (began in 1730) was opened in 1732.  For a time the congregations united and met at the Amphitheatre in Livery Street, the members of Old Meeting taking possession of their re-erected chapel, October 4, 1795.  New Meeting being re-opened April 22, 1802.  The last-named building remained in the possession of the Unitarians until 1861, when it was sold to the Roman Catholics.  The last services in Old Meeting took place March 19, 1882, the chapel and graveyard, comprising an area of 2,760 square yards, being sold to the L. & N. W. R. Co., for the purpose of enlarging the Central Station.  The price paid by the Railway Company was L32,250, of which L2,000 was for the minister and L250 towards the expense of removing to private vaults the remains of a few persons whose friends wished that course.  A portion of Witton Cemetery was laid out for the reception of the remainder, where graves and vaults have been made in relative positions to those in the old graveyard, the tombstones being similarly placed.  A new church has been erected in Bristol Street for the congregation, with Sunday Schools, &c., L7,000 being the sum given for the site.—­In 1839, Hurst Street Chapel was built for the Unitarian Domestic Mission.  May 1, same year, the first stone was laid of the Newhall Hill Chapel, which was opened July 10, 1840.—­The Church of the Messiah, Broad Street, was commenced Aug. 12, 1860, and opened Jan. 1, 1862.  This church, which cost L10,000 and will seat nearly 1,000 is built over a canal, one of the strangest sites ever chosen for a place of worship.  In connection with this church, there is a chapel in Lawrence Street.

Welsh Chapels.—­The Welsh Calvinistic Methodists meet in the little chapel, bottom of Hockley Hill, and also in Granville Street, near Bath Row.—­The Welsh Congregationalists (Independents) assemble at Wheeler Street Chapel, opened May 1, 1839.