The Smallest Cathedral in England

Apparently this tradition continued up until the time of the Reformation, it was at this time that the Lady Chapel and the statue of Our Lady were removed.

It is thought that after the removal of the statue the villagers, not to be beaten, started to place the roses instead on the tomb of the other beloved Lady of Tong Church, Isabel de Pembrugge! I can say with confidence that the tradition is still kept today, by local people.

Other tombs in the church, equally impressive are of members of the influential Vernon family, who had their family seat at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire.

The Stanley Monument is also interesting, Sir Thomas Stanley who was Governor of The Isle of Man married Margaret Vernon; she was the daughter of Sir George Vernon. Their son Sir Edward Stanley died in 1632, and it is the effigies of these three people that lie on the monument. Both Sir Thomas and Sir Edward are in Elizabethan armour, the detail is wonderful.

Sir Henry Vernon built the Golden Chapel in the year 1510; yes they were a big name in this area! The chapel gets its name from the gilding on the ceiling, some of which is still visible, the ceiling is fan vaulted and has three hanging pendants. The pre-reformation alter top is still there, and is six feet long with five consecration crosses. The floor still has many of its early tiles, this must have been a very colourful chapel in its former years, and you can still see some of the coral and gold colouring on the walls and ceiling even now.

On the North side of the church, very near the walled up door of excommunication, is the mark of a cannon ball from the Civil war.

Lastly, I will tell you the tale of Little Nell, the character from the Charles Dickens novel "Old Curiosity Shop". The last chapters of the novel were based around Tong village, and the reputed grave of Little Nell is in the churchyard outside the main south door. This grave is completely fictitious, and is the work of a past verger at the church, who discovered that showing visitors the grave of Little Nell was indeed a profitable exercise! If you have ever read the novel you will find that although the description of the church matches well, Little Nell was in fact buried inside the church, not outside. However, the fictitious grave

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