On
May 7, 2012, Preservation Virginia will issue a list of sites across
the Commonwealth that face threats which would detract from their
historic integrity. It is our understanding that one of the sites
included on this year's list may be Talbot Hall.
If
this is the case, Preservation Virginia will have made this decision
without full knowledge of the facts surrounding the potential
disposition of the property.
In
a response to Preservation Virginia, Bishop Hollerith has made it clear
that as the faithful duly-elected leaders of the Diocese of Southern
Virginia consider the conveyance of the property for future use, they
are being extremely careful to assure the preservation, and hopefully
restoration, of the historic house. Indeed, the resolution passed at the
Council of the Diocese of Southern Virginia in February specifies that
the preservation of the historic house will be a primary consideration
in its disposition. The decision regarding the disposition of the
property will be made only after careful consideration by each of the
more than thirty members of the Executive Board and the Standing
Committee of the Diocese of Southern Virginia who are committed to
follow the intent of that resolution.
The
34,000 people of the Diocese of Southern Virginia have been good and
faithful stewards of the Talbot Hall manor house within the limits of
our financial ability for more than 50 years. It is our intent to be
nothing less than good and faithful stewards of this house as we
consider its future disposition.
