Bartley

Bartley - Hamphire, Home Of The Tin Church

Bartley is a very small village situated between Netley Marsh and Cadnam just of the A336.

Bartley is in close proximity to the old Stoney Cross airfield which was used by bombers during the Second World War. There is little evidence of this remaining and Stoney Cross is now a favourite place for visitors stopping for a picnic in the forest or to see the local New Forest ponies

The village is very small and there is little here that can be considered of any great historical value except of course the marvellous tin Church.

It is said that originally the nearest church to the local village population was a good walk away in Copythorne, not to bad in the summer months but not as pleasant a journey during the winter months.

The local land owners of the time (the Howard’s), were caring for their estate workers so they actually donated a plot of land for the erection of a community centre and a more local place of worship and so the Church was born in 1900 with a reported budget of just £90 for the purchase of materials.

The Church was well used for decades after, but eventually the congregation declined and the church fell into disrepair with a decision eventually being made to sell of the plot for housing development in the 1980's.

The application met a huge amount of resistance and the development plan was eventually shelved. In subsequent years a project and charity was set up to restore this monument.

The charity that was set up and with great community spirit raised over £80,000 pounds for the redevelopment of the church from sources around the world, and the tin church has now been restored to its former glory.

Poem by the late Pam Brenton about the church.

I have been reading about Bartley Tin Church
it really must be quite old.
Now it is under new management
so new stories will unfold.

Some folk look at it as a landmark
I think it is rather quaint.
Soon it will be in use again
after hard work and a lot of paint.

I remember when it was a church
where people did sing and pray
great to know it has a future again
with forthcoming events on the way.

It is not a very big building
the tower is not very tall
God bless all who toiled for it
good luck to the new village hall.

You can find out more about Bartley Church here.

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