Survey Data
Reg No
13313025
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Historical, Social
Original Use
Church/chapel
In Use As
Church/chapel
Date
1830 - 1835
Coordinates
212524, 263316
Date Recorded
07/08/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached Church of Ireland church, dated 1832, having three-bay nave elevations, three-stage bell tower on square-plan to the northeast gable end, shallow projecting chancel to southwest elevation, gable-fronted single-bay transept/porch to southwest nave elevation (three-bay elevation to the southwest face) with advanced three-bay projection to the northeast nave elevation, the latter having single-storey vestry addition. Pitched natural slate roof with raised cut stone verges and cast-iron rainwater goods. Carved spired limestone pinnacles with carved limestone parapet to bell tower. Pitched slate roof with limestone parapet, carved limestone spired pinnacles and cast-iron cross finial to gable-fronted porch/transept to the southwest side of nave. Snecked rock-faced limestone walls with ashlar limestone clasping corner buttresses. Ashlar limestone engaged buttresses with carved limestone string courses to gable-fronted porch and corresponding projecting bay. Carved limestone date plaque to second stage of southwest elevation of tower with carved limestone string courses delineating stages. Pointed arch window openings (triple-light to nave and to central window opening of transept and to projection to the northeast elevation) with chamfered limestone surrounds, carved limestone hoodmouldings and timber and leaded tracery in the early Perpendicular style. Oculus opening to second stage of tower with chamfered limestone surround, carved limestone hoodmoulding and leaded glass. Triple-light pointed arch window opening to chancel having cut stone cusped intersecting tracery, chamfered limestone surrounds and carved limestone hoodmoulding. Lancet openings with timber louvered fittings to third stage of tower/belfry stage. Pointed arch door openings to porch and bell tower (northwest face) with chamfered limestone surrounds and timber battened doors, openings to porch having carved limestone hoodmouldings, that to tower having carved limestone label moulding with incised quatrefoil motifs. Set back from road in own grounds with graveyard to site. Ashlar limestone gate piers (on square-plan) with carved limestone capstone, set in random rubble limestone boundary walls with wrought and cast-iron railings and gates to road frontage (west). Carved monolithic limestone gate posts on square-plan with chamfered edges and carved capping to northwest of site. Located to the southeast of Keenagh.
Appraisal
An attractive and well-detailed early nineteenth-century Church of Ireland church, built in a Gothic Revival style, which retains its early form, character and fabric. This church is of a more elaborate form than is more typically found in rural Longford, as is the standard of the cut limestone detailing, particularly to the openings, and to the pinnacles of the tower and the southeast transept/porch. This church at Keenagh differs from the more commonly encountered Board of First Fruits hall and tower church in that it has an unusual transept/porch to the southwest side of the nave, which is balanced by an advanced three-bay projection to the northeast side of the nave. A plaque to the tower indicates that this church was built under the patronage of Jane, Dowager Countess of Rosse’ and Lewis (1837) records that it was ‘erected at an expense of £2000’ (Irish Parliamentary Returns (1837) put this figure at £2500 British). It was built to designs by the architect William Farrell (died 1851). The ‘A.G. Cowen’ to the plaque may indicate the name of the main contractor/builder involved in its construction. The Caen stone and marble memorial pulpit (commemorating Rev. J.J. Hayes) to the interior (not viewed) was added c. 1895 to designs by Richard Langrishe (1834 – 1922) and the work was carried out by C.W. Harrison and Sons, Dublin. This church and the adjacent school (13313024) form a pleasant grouping of Church of Ireland structures at the southeast end of Keenagh village. The good quality ashlar limestone gate piers, the boundary wall, railings, gates and the collection of grave markers to the graveyard complete the setting of this notable composition. Associated rectory to the south (13402221).