Historic Churches in Ribble Valley

The Parish Church of St Lawrence

Located off Chapel Hill, this church boasts panoramic views of foothills, fells and Preston Plain. The earliest documented reference to a 'Chapel of Longridge' is made in 1522. However rebuilding work is known to have taken place in 1716 and again in 1784, when the chapel was repaired and enlarged.

The parsonage was built in 1786 and this fine house still stands today in market Place close to the junction with Kestor Lane and Fell Brow. It is now a private residence. Although St Lawrence's Church finally became the Parish Church in 1868 when ties with the Ribchester Parish were ceased, many were calling for a new church to be built in the centre of Longridge as a chapel-of-ease to serve the growing Berry Lane population. It took the arrival of a new vicar in 1877 to finally sanction the building, which was to become St Paul's.

However, when St Paul's was built many parishioners still felt a strong allegiance to the Parish Church of St Lawrence as it is for this reason that major restoration work was carried out there in 1900.

Enquiries 01772 782381 / 01772 786240

St Paul's Church 

The possibility of this church being built was initially made by the action of Robert Smith, a church warden and benefactor who was to later found the Robert Smith Boys' School in 1885.

The first cornerstones of St Paul's were laid by Lady Stanley on July 28th 1886. The building was completed and duty consecrated in 1890 but it was not until 1937 that the tower was added.

Enquiries 01772 782381 / 01772 786240