The Church of Saint Bartholomews in Tong
Church History
(from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Bartholomew%27s_Church,_Tong)
The Collegiate Church of St Bartholomew, Tong (also known as St Bartholomew's Church) is a 15th-century church in the village of Tong, Shropshire, England, notable for its architecture and fittings, including its fan vaulting in a side chapel, rare in Shropshire, and its numerous tombs. It was built on the site of a former parish church and was constructed as a collegiate church and chantry on the initiative of Isabel Lingen, who acquired the advowson from Shrewsbury Abbey and additional endowments through royal support. Patronage remained with the lords of the manor of Tong, who resided at nearby Tong Castle, a short distance to the south-west, and the tombs and memorials mostly represent these families, particularly the Vernons of Haddon Hall, who held the lordship for more than a century. Later patrons, mostly of landed gentry origin, added further memorials, including the Stanley Monument which is inscribed with epitaphs specially written by William Shakespeare.
The church was the site of a minor skirmish during the English Civil War and also hosts the grave of Little Nell from Charles Dickens' The Old Curiosity Shop, despite the character being entirely fictitious. The building is grade I listed and had its lead roof replenished with steel during 2017 to deter thieves. Due to its many monuments inside the church and ornate architecture, it is sometimes labelled as The Westminster Abbey of The Midlands, often featuring as one of the best churches in The Midlands and in England.
The Cache
To work out the final coordinates please find the answers to the following questions and then do the maths.
The posted coordinates are for the main gate. please start here. You will find the answers to the questions as you go round the church Clockwise.
1/. Walk round the left hand side of the church 1st. You will find a bench in memory of Alice and Walter Whitney. Please work out there respective ages when they died and then work out the age difference. You should get a 2 digit total. Please add the 2 digits together = A
2/. You will find a Sun dial around the back of the church. On top is a brass plaque with clock numbers on the top and at the bottom you can just make out a date = 17B6
3/. Round the back of the church is the large entrance door. How many vertical slats run from top to bottom of the door = 1C
4/. Just before you walk down the right hand side of the church, look down the slope towards the A41 and you should see a castellated rectangle wall with a privot hedge on top. look over the hedge and how many crosses can you see? = D
5/. You will find a bench down the side of the church in memory of Michael Wood. How many letters has the longest word written on the bench? = E
6/. Round the front you will find a large cross in an alcove. What is the year inscribed on the cross = 1F23
Checksum A+B+C+D+E+F = 35
Your prize awaits you at
N52 39.((E-A)(F-C)(E-F))
W002 18.((B/C)-D)(E-A-C)(F/D)
The cache is not in the church grounds.
To access the cache please walk further round and you will find a way in.
Suitable footwear is advisable because at GZ. No flip-flops or sandals.
While you are here in the Hamlet of Tong why dont you check out my other 6 Geocache Hides in the area
GC8V8Y2 FYI 451 - (TSoT )ST BARTHOLOMEW'S CHURCH
GC8V91D FYI 452 - (TSoT )COLLEGE FIELD
GC8V91K FYI 453 - (TSoT) INFIRMARY RUINS
GC8V905 FYI 455 - ALBRIGHTON
GC8V5E5 A FINE PAIR #1465 - TONG
GC8V8XM VILLAGE HALL SERIES #757 - TONG PARISH HALL
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For full information on how you can expand the Church Micro series by sadexploration please read the Place your own Church Micro page before you contact him at churchmicro.co.uk
See also the Church Micro Statistics and Home pages for further information about the series.
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