THE PHOTO SHOWS THE CHAPEL AS IT NOW IS IN FEBRUARY 2023. PLEASE JOIN US ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE TO SEE HOW IT WAS BEFORE BECOMING THE PROPERTY OF THE LONDON BOROUGH OF BROMLEY & TO SEE FURTHER PHOTOS & TO LEARN OF ALL THE LATEST NEWS GOOD OR BAD FROM ST GEORGE'S RAF CHAPEL BIGGIN HILL.
Click here:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064749847046
If you are new to the tragedy that has occurred at the RAF Memorial Chapel, there are links to two earlier BBC TV News reports further down this page which will quickly bring you up to speed.
Despite this petition the London Borough of Bromley and its BHMM Trust have 'bulldozed' their plans through and the photo above is the result. This petition is now a register of disgust at what has been inflicted on the RAF Memorial Chapel. ALL the trees and shrubs at the front of the Chapel, many planted by relatives in the memory of deceased RAF servicemen, have been removed. The lovely large Vestry has been demolished and replaced by the ugly white 'Visitors Centre' which locally is being referred to as the Biggin Hill Memorial Monstrosity (BHMM). Even the Irish Yews, flanking the St George's Battle of Britain Window, planted shortly after the Chapel was opened in 1951 and stipulated by the London Borough of Bromley's own Conservation Consultants: 'to remain' have also been removed. So has the magnificent wild cherry that was in front of the Vestry and was in full bloom. Yews are traditionally associated with churches and chapels and the Irish Yew is a special variety, originating from only two trees found in Ireland in the 1700s, has a neat upright growth, and can only be propagated from cuttings!
In place of the now demolished, large (circa 70 square metre) beautiful Grade II Listed Vestry, which housed the Aircrew Association stained glass window, is the Council's 'Museum/Visitors Centre' (BHMM) despite appearing unfinished, is now in fact open! In addition to being an ugly and inappropriate design, as an Airfield Museum this new building is wholly inadequate, requiring take-over of the St George's Room , part of the rear of the original Chapel. Even official bodies are now describing it as just a 'Visitors Centre'. To think, all this at Biggin Hill, the 'Strongest Link' (Station Motto) and the most famous RAF Station in the world!
WE STILL DESPERATELY NEED YOUR SIGNATURES TO REGISTER THE PUBLIC'S DISGUST AT WHAT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED AND TO FIGHT ANY FURTHER INDIGNITIES BEING INFLICTED ON OUR BIGGIN HILL RAF MEMORIAL CHAPEL. IMPORTANTLY IN ADDITION, TO SUPPORT THE 'FRIENDS OF THE CHAPEL' IN THEIR STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN SERVICES AND KEEP THE CHAPEL AN ACTIVE 'LIVING CHURCH'.
Please click on my name at top of page for further information and contact details for the 'Friends.'
TO VIEW TWO DIFFERENT BBC TV NEWS REPORTS FROM 2017 PLEASE CLICK BELOW:
1st
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOZ5Tr0MoQA
2nd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBoC1LBXgk4
This inappropriate, unpopular scheme has being financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund to the tune of nearly £2 million, money that should have been re-directed to the more sympathetic scheme, 'worthy' of Biggin Hill, that was proposed by the Biggin HiIl Battle of Britain Supporters Club. In fact the Council scheme has had funding of £5.3 million, but unbelieveably claim this is still not enough and a further £600k is required to complete the project!
Visitors now to the Chapel will no longer be able to view the St George's Room (part of the Nave) with its commemorative stained glass windows, including the St George's Battle of Britain Memorial Window, without paying the museum charge of £7.50. However the main body of the Chapel remains free to enter.
People have waited over thirty years for a Museum at Biggin Hill. The situation is made worse because the highly praised approved design, by the Biggin Hill Battle of Britain Supporters Club, which in no way would have affected the Chapel, but provided the same level of support and with vastly superior facilities, could have been built at lower predicted cost. Also importantly it would not have required the closure of the Chapel throughout the building works.
Whereas the Council design has required the closure of the Chapel to visitors, also for services and the funerals of Veterans for over a year whilst building works have taken place. This situation was highlighted to great effect at the 2017 St George's Day Service, when a 95 year old RAF Veteran, proudly wearing his Aircrew Association tie, rose to his feet and announced his days were numbered and he wanted his funeral to be in the Chapel and his ashes placed in the Garden of Remembrance. But he could not die to order, how could they consider closing the Chapel for over a year?!
The Garden of Remembrance, which contains the ashes of several hundred RAF persons and had been closed on Health and Safety grounds during the building works, is now accessible during Museum opening hours, but sadly has sustained considerable damage.
Other than those in the immediate locality of Biggin Hill, the many other interested parties, including ex-RAF personnel, and relatives worldwide of those commemorated, remain in ignorance of these distressing developments.
Please direct your comments on the situation and the hideous design of the Museum to the Trust's email address:
[email protected]. But please don't forget to still sign the petition and please encourage your friends to do similar.
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