An Appreciation of Vincent Tonge 1928 – 2003

Vincent Tonge was, with his wife Barbara, a member of Christians Aware for many years.  Vincent, with Barbara, was a regular attender at CA conferences and summer schools, bringing a wealth of wisdom and experience to share. 

CA members have always been welcome at Vincent and Barbara’s home just outside Chester. A summer school, which Jennifer refers to below, was held there when some participants camped in the field outside the barn.  Vincent and Barbara have welcomed some of our international visitors to their home and have given them a wonderful experience of meeting church members and learning from the surrounding neighbourhood.

We will all miss Vincent enormously.   Our prayers and support go to the family, especially to Barbara.

Jennifer Kennerley, a long-standing friend of Vincent and Barbara, has written an apprecation of Vincent.

Vincent, along with Barbara, has been part of our lives for thirty years.   The breadth of their work and their interests has touched us in so many ways over that time.  Their partnership has been so strong, that Vincent’s spirit will surely be here for us to share with Barbara.

Vincent’s life was made up of many sorts of journeys and discoveries.  Spiritually, Unitarianism, Methodism and the Society of Friends formed his background and the stages of his journey.  But his interest was in all kinds of religion and spirituality, with such a wide variety of friends and contacts.

The work that Vincent undertook as a doctor in general practice demonstrated his abiding concern for the health and welfare of all kinds and conditions of people.   For some years more recently, he gave much time and dedication to working at the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture – a very active and positive use of his medical knowledge and skills.

Barbara and Vincent’s home has always been open to any who came, and has provided refuge and shelter, solace and friendship for many from near and far.   The barn behind the house had a renewed life as a holiday home for deprived youngsters, a workshop for a Tools for Self Reliance group, the base for the Christians Aware Summer School one year, and a home for the goats.

His love of literature, of poetry, of music, of art, permeated through all his existence.  The countryside was explored on foot in many places with friends – lately the Lake District and Gozo provided him with refreshment and inspiration.  In recent years carving with stone and wood gave him a means of expressing so many of his loves and interests and concerns. The garden at Heathfield provides a living background to his carvings – combining his love of nature with creativity and desire for peace.  And a natural wildlife garden for everybody in Kendal was his last (unfinished) enthusiasm.