Longworth RC Chapel

Bartestree, Herefordshire | Listed Grade II*

Transport

The nearest railway station is approximately 5 miles away at Hereford.

History and Architecture

Longworth Chapel, on its present site, dates from 1869–70.  The chapel, or parts of it, stood first at Old Longworth where it was the private chapel of a manor house. After the reformation the chapel fell out of use.  By the 17th century the chapel was being used for agricultural purposes, but it survived relatively unchanged into the mid-19th century.  The owner at that time, Robert Biddulph Phillips, converted to Catholicism and decided to restore the chapel.  Phillips died in 1864 and was buried in his chapel at Longworth.  His will expressed a determination to move the chapel next to the convent at Bartestree a few miles away.  Edward Welby Pugin (1834–75), gifted Gothic Revivalist and architect of the convent at Bartestree, almost certainly carried this out in 1869–70, possibly with the involvement of John Bucknal.
Today’s chapel is thus a remarkable Victorian interpretation of a medieval building incorporating extensive high quality medieval structures.  The chancel has a three-bay early 15th century oak roof with two tiers of cusped windbraces.  The north (west) end has a plain, probably 16th century roof of 14 close set arch braced collar trusses.  There is a fine stone altar reredos of 1869, also probably designed by E.W.Pugin.  the stained glass and statutory is by Hardmans of Birmingham.

Repair and Regeneration

HCT’s architect has prepared proposals for the full repair of the building and English Heritage have awarded a grant of £143,000.  Further fundraising is now being actively undertaken from a wide variety of sources.

A well attended public meeting was held in April 2008 and a local committee was created with Greg Brunt as chairman.

Work started on the first phase of repairs in late November 2009.