Most villages have accumulated a few objects of interest and value over the centuries. Tong has more than its fair share, Chapter 8 describes them. Tong boasts a Great Bell installed by order of Sir Henry Vernon - the largest in Shropshire taking three people to toll it. After damage in the Civil War and again in 1848 it was last recast at the time of the church restoration in 1892. There are rules restricting when it can be tolled.
“The booming of the Great Bell echoes all over the village. Thus it tells part of the Village story. To this day, a member of the Vernon family, or of the Royal Family does visit occasionally. The tolling of the Bell is a sign of continuity, over five centuries.”
The Great Bell of Tong.
The belfry also has a peal of six bells and a Sanctus bell. In the Chancel is a rare Easter Sepulchre
.
The vestry used to house a large 'Minister's Library' founded at the end of the seventeenth century and at one time
containing 409 rare and valuable books.
“When the Duke built the Vicarage, the Library was moved from the Castle. But because of absentee Vicars, it was moved into the Church Vestry and a fireplace installed. George Durant (II), and the Revd T. Buckeridge, added some other books. During the 1892 restoration the Vicar checked the volumes against Botfield's Catalogue. He discovered that it contained 409 books, of which 89 were missing. There were 70 books not included in the Catalogue. Having found some volumes from the Library in a second-hand book cart in Wolverhampton, Auden did a further check. Clearly pilfering was rife.”
Dame Elinor Harries donated a number of treasures: a pulpit fall; the pulpit itself; a silver ewer but most
significantly the Tong Cup.
The Tong Cup was originally ascribed to the workmanship of Holbein - made in silver gilt holding a rock crystal 'cup'. It is now attributed to Dierick
Lookermans from about 1611. It has always been greatly admired and now takes pride of place in the Treasury
of Lichfield Cathedral.
See also: Tong Cup.
Photograph of the author holding the Tong Cup.
“There is a crack in the crystal. This was caused by the Vicar of Donnington, who dropped it on the floor, when he was shown it by his fellow incumbent. The same notebook, which describes that incident, also records that, following a family baptism from Weston Park, the Earl of Bradford asked to borrow the Cup, in order to show it to his friends and relatives. The notebook continues 'Thirty years later the Vicar of Tong went up to Weston Park with his son to demand it back'.”
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