THE
Archaeological Journal.
MARCH, 1845.
TONG CHURCH, SALOP.
Though church architecture is generally allowed to have reached its highest perfection during the prevalence of the Decorated style, it cannot be said to shew any symptoms of decline at the first appearance of the Perpendicular; a style, which dispensed indeed with some of the peculiar beauties of its predecessor, yet by the introduction of a new element was rendered capable of a degree of grandeur and magnificence hitherto scarcely attained. Of this the choir of York furnishes a striking instance; nor less so, the well known works of William of Wykeham, and other eminent architects of the age. But it is not only in churches of the first order as regards size and enrichment, that we are to look for architectural character. The edifice which I propose to notice, though comparatively plain and of moderate dimensions, yet presents sufficient indications both of the beauty of the prevailing style, and the genius of the architect, to justify a careful examination.
The parochial church of St. Bartholomew at Tong[1] it appears, was rebuilt by Isabel, widow of Sir Fulke Penbrugge, knight, between the years 1401 and 1411, in which latter year it was made collegiate, and endowed for the maintenance of a warden, four chaplains, two clerks, and thirteen infirm old men. To this date, I think there can be no doubt, may be assigned the whole of the present structure, with the exception of a chapel annexed to the south aisle early in the sixteenth century; nor can I discover any remains of the earlier building, unless a discrepancy between the north and south
- ↑ The village of Tong is about ten miles from Wolverhampton, and three from Shifnall, at a short distance from the Shrewsbury road. The church stands in a corner of the park attached to Tong Castle.
