St Bartholomew’s, Tong
The Need to Preserve
The Vision
Restore to preserve
In order to preserve St Bartholomew’s for future generations, and to meet the expectations of present day worshippers and heritage visitors, a 21st century restoration phase is now underway.
The ‘Tong Twenty Twenty Vision’ Appeal [2016 – 2020] is motivated by a commitment to make the building more attractive and appealing to a wider spectrum of users while at the same time conserving its unique historic monuments and artefacts.
All Encompassing
Both little and large. Very large!
The Tong Twenty Twenty Vision started with the pressing need to make the main structure secure, weather and water tight. To date, the following
improvements have been achieved:
securing the north and south aisle roofs from the adverse impact of weather erosion and repeated lead thefts;
refurbishing and replacing rainwater goods, and repairing below ground drainage;
completing essential high level masonry repairs to tower and spire, and restoring the iconic weathercock;
refurbishing the vestry to make it a workable space for parish meetings and more accessible for history researchers and visitors;
refurbishing the organ;
full restoration of four diamond plain glazed windows, those worst affected by defective leading and bowing glass.
Forever Ongoing
Onwards and upwards
Further high level masonry repairs are still required to the South Porch and Golden Chapel, together with another phase of window
refurbishment.
Conservation repairs are required to some of the important tomb monuments, and the bells will need overhauling for safety reasons.
Other elements of the Tong Twenty Twenty Vision aim to upgrade the internal facilities and facilitate parish business:
reordering the south entrance to incorporate new internal glazed doors and dedicated heritage display & information space, for the proper interpretation and display of Church artefacts including the Elizabethan embroidered Pulpit fall;
reordering the north aisle to improve visual impact and address storage issues;
upgrading the heating system, ideally either ground source heat or air-source heat, to utilise the existing Victorian underfloor pipes;
installing a toilet and small hospitality area.
Would You Like To Support Us?
The Tong Vision for 2020 and beyond has a target to raise £500,000 over the next 3 years in order to fund urgent and
essential restoration work, and to ensure that all visitors and congregations can continue to enjoy this unique building!
If you can offer your support either financially, in-kind or otherwise, please contact us or visit our JustGiving page by clicking the image, below.
A big thank you to all our supporters! Particular thanks go to the following:
To view details of our charitable status please click here