Parochial chapel, now parish church. Partly medieval or C16 fabric, rebuilt in C17 and C18 and drastically restored in 1877. Mainly uncoursed yellow and red sandstone rubble to nave north and south walls with chamfered plinth, stepped at east end; west wall in late C18 reddish-brown brick and red brick chancel with stone dressings; machine tile roofs. Nave and polygonal chancel; west porch and vestry and lean-to brick shed on north side. Nave in 3 bays; windows all late C19 paired lancets with circular openings above, except the west window (also c.1877) which has 2 cusped square-headed lights; blocked south door with massive 4-centred arch probably late C16; C20 wooden bell-turret at west end above late C19 red brick gabled porch and vestry with a blocked door formerly leading to now dismantled organ gallery to right; contemporary lean-to on north. Late C19 polygonal chancel on site of a C18 chancel with flat-headed windows (c.1938) on north and south and east window in Decorated style with 3 cusped lights. Interior: good C17 roof in 4 bays with double-purlins and cambered tie beams and collars, although only the central truss is unaltered; late

C17 panelled pulpit and early C19 font with marble bowl and baluster-shaped shaft, originally in the Church of St George, Pontesbury (q.v.), but transferred to Longden in 1864. The chapel was probably originally founded as the private chapel of the barons of Longden. B.o.E., p.172; V.C.H. VIII (1968), Pp.290-91; D.H.S. Cranage, The Churches of Shropshire, Part 6 (1903), p.530.

This text is a legacy record and has not been updated since the building was originally listed. Details of the building may have changed in the intervening time. You should not rely on this listing as an accurate description of the building.

Source: English Heritage

http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-259504-church-of-st-ruthen-longden-#.V-txWpB4WrU