Glossary

dedication	the opening of a chapel as a place of worship

church dignitaries	important people, like bishops, deans, cannons

congregation	people gathering together for worship plots pieces of land marked out for building on leases the land may be only let or leased; usually for 99 years; not sold; the landowner can then control the use of the land

suburb	a district where people live, away from the town centre

villas	large, separate, houses

terraces	rows of houses, all joined together

courts	yards with house rows built round them, very close together

borough council	Birmingham had had one since 1838; elected by the ratepayers of the borough

First Citizen	mayor of the town

magistrate	judge in a police court

compulsory	the children had to go to school

mansion	a fine, large, house