Survey Data
Reg No
13401405
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Social
Original Use
Church/chapel
In Use As
Church/chapel
Date
1820 - 1835
Coordinates
217148, 274197
Date Recorded
18/07/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Freestanding barn-type five-bay single-storey Roman Catholic chapel, built c. 1830, having projecting single-bay gable-fronted porch, c. 1920, to the southwest end of the main elevation (southeast) and a three-bay single-storey projection (sacristy) with hipped slate roof and rendered chimneystack to the northeast end of the east main elevation (c. 1960). Pitched natural slate roof with raised rendered verges with kneeler stones to either gable end (southwest and northeast), having ornate wrought-iron cross finials to gable apexes. Remaining sections of cast-iron rainwater goods. Render coping and kneeler stones to projecting porch with wrought-iron cross finial to gable apex. Roughcast rendered walls over smooth rendered plinth. Pointed arch window openings to side elevations (northwest and southeast), and to the southwest gable end, with lattice stained glass windows and painted limestone sills. Single pointed arch window opening to the northwest elevation of nave. Two pointed arch window openings to chancel gable (northeast) having figurative stained glass windows, added c. 1900. Square-headed openings to three-bay projection having one-over-one timber sliding sash windows with painted limestone sills. Square-headed doorway to front face of projection porch, set in pointed arch recess, with timber battened double doors having ornate cast-iron strap hinges. Set back from the road in own grounds to the east of Longford Town. Rubble stone boundary wall with crenellated coping over to road-frontage (south). Cast-iron post box, c. 1960, built into boundary wall. Main entrance gates to the south of the chapel comprising a pair of rendered gate piers (on square-plan) having modern metal double leaf gates.
Appraisal
This simple early nineteenth century hall/barn-type chapel, prominently sited on a main road, presents a pleasing façade along the main approach road into Longford Town from the east. The relatively lack of detailing, and the absence of an attached belfry, is indicative of the lack of resources available to the Roman Catholic church in Ireland at the time of construction. The absence of a belfry may also be the result of the restrictions of the Penal Laws, prior to Emancipation in 1829, when the Roman Catholic Church was not permitted to have a bell for worship. The simple pointed arch window openings give this simple building a muted Gothic theme and character. The understated coherent decorative scheme culminates in the later ornate porch with decorative brackets to the double doors, which unifies and emphasises the subdued Gothic theme of the building. The gable ends are adorned with delicate wrought-iron finials, which add artistic interest. The fine figurative stained glass windows to the chancel gable add a further decorative element the interior. These ornate windows were probably added c. 1900 and may be by Mayer of Munich, a prolific firm whose work can be found in many Roman Catholic churches and chapels throughout Ireland. This church was probably originally built as a chapel of ease within the Templemichael Parish.