THE BUILDING, WE BELIEVE, WAS BOUGHT AS A KIT, FOR ERECTION ON THE SITE, AND CONSISTS OF A TIMBER FRAME, LINED INTERNALLY WITH TONGUE AND GROOVE PINE, A PINE FLOOR, AND ON THE OUTSIDE, THE BUILDING WAS CLAD WITH CORRUGATED IRON, PAINTED A DEEP WOODLAND GREEN.
THE REAR FACING WALL CONTAINS FOUR STAINED GLASS WINDOW, WHICH GIVE THE BUILDING A SENSE OF PRIDE , THE RECEIPT FOR THIS WORK STILL EXISTS, AND SHOWS A COST OF £17.10. 00 WITH EXPENSES FOR VISITING OF £.1.1. 00, CARRIED OUT BY A FIRM CALLED
"F.G.CHRISTMAS, OF UNDERELM STUDIO, HAY LANE, KINGSBURY N.W.9"
THE RECEIPT STATING "TO EXECUTING THREE STAINED GLASS CIRCLES WITH ANGEL'S HEADS TO DESIGNS AS ESTIMATE", DATED NOV 19TH 1930.
THE WHOLE BUILDING IS TOPPED BY AN EXCELLENT PENDULUM CLOCK GIVEN IN 1903 TO THE VILLAGE BY CONSTANCE HOWARD, IN MEMORY OF HER HUSBAND, J.H.HOWARD. OUR RECORDS SHOW THAT, QUOTE "BARTLEY VILLAGE IS IN DEBT TO THE LATE MRS. CONSTANCE HOWARD FOR ALL SHE DID TOWARDS THE INSTITUTION AND WELFARE OF THE BARTLEY CHURCH ROOMS DURING VERY MANY YEARS OF DEVOTED LABOUR OF LOVE AND BENEVOLENCE."
THE BUILDING WAS ABANDONED BY THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN 1992, BUT REMAINED WITH TRUSTEES UP TO1998 ,WHEN THE VILLAGE MANAGED TO RAISE £10.000 BY HARD WORK AND LOCAL GENEROSITY, AND RE-PURCHASED IT BACK OFF THE DIOCESE OF WINCHESTER, THEY REPRESENTING THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.
AT THIS POINT THE VILLAGERS CREATED THE PROJECT INTO A CHARITABLE TRUST, "BARTLEY VILLAGE HALL CHARITABLE TRUST", THE TRUSTEES ARE NOW HARD AT WORK RAISING FUNDS TO RESTORE THE BUILDING AS A VILLAGE HALL ONCE MORE AS A CENTRE FOR THE COMMUNITY, THIS WILL MEAN TAKING OFF THE WHOLE WALL AND ROOF COVERING , REPAIRING THE WOODEN FRAME, INSULATING, AND RE-COVERING WITH NEW CORRUGATED IRON, THE WINDOWS AND THE FLOOR HAVE BOTH BEEN DAMAGED BY WOOD ROT AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED, NEW LIGHTING, LAVATORIES, SMALL KITCHEN, STORE CUPBOARDS, DRAINS ETC. HAVE TO BE INSTALLED.
THE CHURCH REMOVED MANY ITEMS OF CHARACTER FROM THE SITE BEFORE SALE BUT WE DO HAVE THE ORGAN (A PEDAL TYPE AND A PIANO) BOTH OF WHICH NEED TO BE RETUNED AND RESTORED.
FORWARD BACK HOME The Tin Church Fully Restored
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