Church of St Luke, Liverpool - Revision history

imported>Jevansen: Moving from Category:Gothic Revival church buildings in England to Category:Gothic Revival church buildings in Merseyside using Cat-a-lot

2025-10-01T21:09:50Z

Moving from Category:Gothic Revival church buildings in England to Category:Gothic Revival church buildings in Merseyside using Cat-a-lot

← Previous revision		Revision as of 21:09, 1 October 2025
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	{{Short description\|Former church in Liverpool, England, that was partially destroyed by bombing in WW2}}		{{Short description\|Former church in Liverpool, England, that was partially destroyed by bombing in WW2}}
	~~{{Use British English\|date=April 2013}}~~
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=August 2022}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=August 2022}}
	{{Use British English\|date=February 2017}}		{{Use British English\|date=February 2017}}
	{{Infobox church \| name = St Luke's Church, Liverpool\| fullname = \| image = File:In the grounds of St Lukes, Liverpool (4).JPG\| imagesize = \| imagealt = \| caption = The church in 2013 \| pushpin map = United Kingdom Liverpool Central\| pushpin map alt = \| pushpin mapsize = 250 \| pushpin label position = \| map caption = Location in Liverpool\| location = [[Liverpool]], England \| coordinates = {{coord\|53.4017\|-2.9752\|region:GB_type:landmark\|display=title}} \| osgraw = SJ 353,899\| denomination = [[Anglican]] \| website = \| status = Former [[parish church]]\| functional status = [[Redundant church\|Redundant]]\| heritage designation = Grade II*\| designated date = 28 June 1952\| architect = [[John Foster, Sr. (architect)\|John Foster, Sr.]]<br/>[[John Foster (architect, born 1786)\|John Foster, Jr.]] ~~\|architectural_type = Church~~\| style = [[Gothic Revival architecture\|Gothic Revival]] ([[English Gothic architecture#Perpendicular Gothic\|Perpendicular]])\| groundbreaking = 1811\| completed date = 1832\| construction cost = \| closed date = \| demolished date = \| capacity = \| length = {{convert\|177\|ft\|6\|in\|m\|0}}\| width = {{convert\|60\|ft\|m\|0}}\| width nave = \| height = \| diameter = \| other dimensions = Tower height {{convert\|133\|ft\|m\|0}}\| floor count = \| floor area = \| materials = [[Sandstone]]}}		{{Infobox church \| name = St Luke's Church, Liverpool\| fullname = \| image = File:In the grounds of St Lukes, Liverpool (4).JPG\| imagesize = \| imagealt = \| caption = The church in 2013 \| pushpin map = United Kingdom Liverpool Central\| pushpin map alt = \| pushpin mapsize = 250 \| pushpin label position = \| map caption = Location in Liverpool\| location = [[Liverpool]], England \| coordinates = {{coord\|53.4017\|-2.9752\|region:GB_type:landmark\|display=title}} \| osgraw = SJ 353,899\| denomination = [[Anglican]] \| website = \| status = Former [[parish church]]\| functional status = [[Redundant church\|Redundant]]\| heritage designation = Grade II*\| designated date = 28 June 1952\| architect = [[John Foster, Sr. (architect)\|John Foster, Sr.]]<br/>[[John Foster (architect, born 1786)\|John Foster, Jr.]] \|style = [[Gothic Revival architecture\|Gothic Revival]] ([[English Gothic architecture#Perpendicular Gothic\|Perpendicular]])\| groundbreaking = 1811\| completed date = 1832\| construction cost = \| closed date = \| demolished date = \| capacity = \| length = {{convert\|177\|ft\|6\|in\|m\|0}}\| width = {{convert\|60\|ft\|m\|0}}\| width nave = \| height = \| diameter = \| other dimensions = Tower height {{convert\|133\|ft\|m\|0}}\| floor count = \| floor area = \| materials = [[Sandstone]]}}

	'''St Luke's Church''', more commonly known by locals as the '''bombed-out church''',<ref name=hist>{{Citation\| url = http://www.stlukeliverpool.co.uk/\| title = Welcome\| access-date = 9 April 2013\| publisher = St Luke's Church, Liverpool\| archive-date = 12 August 2019\| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190812100645/http://www.stlukeliverpool.co.uk/\| url-status = dead}}</ref> is a former [[Anglican]] [[parish church]] in [[Liverpool]], England. It stands on the corner of Berry Street and Leece Street, at the top of [[Bold Street, Liverpool\|Bold Street]].		'''St Luke's Church''', more commonly known by locals as the '''bombed-out church''',<ref name=hist>{{Citation\| url = http://www.stlukeliverpool.co.uk/\| title = Welcome\| access-date = 9 April 2013\| publisher = St Luke's Church, Liverpool\| archive-date = 12 August 2019\| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190812100645/http://www.stlukeliverpool.co.uk/\| url-status = dead}}</ref> is a former [[Anglican]] [[parish church]] in [[Liverpool]], England. It stands on the corner of Berry Street and Leece Street, at the top of [[Bold Street, Liverpool\|Bold Street]].
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	[[Category:Grade II* listed churches in Merseyside\|Liverpool, Church of St Luke]]		[[Category:Grade II* listed churches in Merseyside\|Liverpool, Church of St Luke]]
	[[Category:Parks and commons in Liverpool]]		[[Category:Parks and commons in Liverpool]]
	[[Category:Gothic Revival church buildings in ~~England~~]]		[[Category:Gothic Revival church buildings in Merseyside]]
	[[Category:Gothic Revival architecture in Merseyside]]		[[Category:Gothic Revival architecture in Merseyside]]

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{{Short description|Former church in Liverpool, England, that was partially destroyed by bombing in WW2}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox church | name = St Luke's Church, Liverpool| fullname = | image = File:In the grounds of St Lukes, Liverpool (4).JPG| imagesize = | imagealt = | caption = The church in 2013 | pushpin map = United Kingdom Liverpool Central| pushpin map alt = | pushpin mapsize = 250 | pushpin label position = | map caption = Location in Liverpool| location = [[Liverpool]], England | coordinates = {{coord|53.4017|-2.9752|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}} | osgraw = SJ 353,899| denomination = [[Anglican]] | website = | status = Former [[parish church]]| functional status = [[Redundant church|Redundant]]| heritage designation = Grade II*| designated date = 28 June 1952| architect = [[John Foster, Sr. (architect)|John Foster, Sr.]]<br/>[[John Foster (architect, born 1786)|John Foster, Jr.]] |architectural_type = Church| style = [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] ([[English Gothic architecture#Perpendicular Gothic|Perpendicular]])| groundbreaking = 1811| completed date = 1832| construction cost = | closed date = | demolished date = | capacity = | length = {{convert|177|ft|6|in|m|0}}| width = {{convert|60|ft|m|0}}| width nave = | height = | diameter = | other dimensions = Tower height {{convert|133|ft|m|0}}| floor count = | floor area = | materials = [[Sandstone]]}}

'''St Luke's Church''', more commonly known by locals as the '''bombed-out church''',<ref name=hist>{{Citation| url = http://www.stlukeliverpool.co.uk/| title = Welcome| access-date = 9 April 2013| publisher = St Luke's Church, Liverpool| archive-date = 12 August 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190812100645/http://www.stlukeliverpool.co.uk/| url-status = dead}}</ref> is a former [[Anglican]] [[parish church]] in [[Liverpool]], England. It stands on the corner of Berry Street and Leece Street, at the top of [[Bold Street, Liverpool|Bold Street]].

The church was built between 1811 and 1832, and was designed by [[John Foster, Sr. (architect)|John Foster, Sr.]] and [[John Foster (architect, born 1786)|John Foster, Jr.]], father and son who were successive surveyors for the municipal [[Corporation of Liverpool]]. In addition to being a parish church, it was also intended to be used as a venue for ceremonial worship by the corporation and as a concert hall.

The church was badly damaged by bombs during the [[Liverpool Blitz]] in 1941 and has been a roofless shell ever since, giving rise to its nickname. It now stands as a memorial to those who died in [[WWII|the war]], and has also been hired as a venue for exhibitions and events. The church and its surrounding walls, gates, and railings are recorded in the [[National Heritage List for England]] as designated Grade II* [[Listed building#England and Wales|listed buildings]].

==History==
[[File:St. Luke's Church in Liverpool in 1832-1.jpg|left|thumb|Engraving of St. Luke's Church after completion in 1832.]]
The site for the church was given by [[Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby]] in 1791 on the condition that the land should never be used for any other purpose than that of a church.<ref name="hist"/> Plans for the design of the church were first drawn up in 1802 by John Foster, senior, the surveyor of the Corporation of Liverpool, but the foundation stone was not laid until 9 April 1811.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PFhEAQAAMAAJ&q=St%20Luke's%20Church%20liverpool&pg=PA417|title=The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction|publisher=J. Limbird|year=1838|volume=31-32|pages=417–418|issue=899}}</ref> Building work, supervised by Foster, progressed slowly, and during this time the plans were amended to make the building suitable both as a ceremonial place of worship for members of the corporation, and also for use as a concert hall.<ref name=nhl/> In 1822 it was decided to add a [[chancel]] to the church. Foster's son, also named John, took over the role of Corporation surveyor and continued to supervise the building, making further changes to the design in 1827.<ref name=pev>{{Citation | last1 = Sharples | first1 = Joseph| last2 = Pollard| first2 = Richard| year = 2004| title = Liverpool| series = Pevsner Architectural Guides| location = New Haven and London| publisher = [[Yale University Press]]| pages = 197–199| isbn = 0-300-10258-5}}</ref> The building was finally completed in 1832.<ref name=nhl/> The church was known as "the doctor's church" because of its location close to [[Rodney Street, Liverpool|Rodney Street]], the home of many doctors.<ref name=hist/> It continued to be used as a concert hall as well as a church until the [[Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool|Philharmonic Hall]] in [[Hope Street, Liverpool|Hope Street]] opened in 1849.<ref name=nhl/><ref>{{Citation | last1 = Henley| first1 = Darren| last2 = McKernan| first2 = Vincent| year = 2009| title = The Original Liverpool Sound: The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society | location = Liverpool | page = 29| publisher = Liverpool University Press | isbn = 978-1-84631-224-3}}</ref> Between 1864 and 1873, minor alterations were made to the church by [[W. & G. Audsley]].<ref name=nhl/>

On 6 May 1941, during Liverpool's "[[May Blitz, Liverpool|May Blitz]]", the church was hit by an [[incendiary device]] that caused a large fire, leaving only the burnt-out shell of the former church. It has since been nicknamed "the bombed-out church".<ref name=dest/> It has been decided to maintain the church as it is, a burnt-out shell, as a memorial to those who died as a result of the war.<ref name=pev/><ref name=dest>{{Citation| url = http://www.stlukeliverpool.co.uk/#/the-destruction/4551084932| title = The Destruction| access-date = 9 April 2013| publisher = St Luke's Church, Liverpool| archive-date = 12 August 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190812100645/http://www.stlukeliverpool.co.uk/#/the-destruction/4551084932| url-status = dead}}</ref> The church was designated as a Grade II* listed building on 28 June 1952.<ref name=nhl>{{National Heritage List for England |num= 1280622|desc= Church of St Luke, Liverpool|access-date= 9 April 2013|mode=cs2}}</ref> This is the middle of the three grades, which is defined by English Heritage as containing "particularly important buildings of more than special interest".<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/what-is-designation/listed-buildings/| title = Listed Buildings| access-date = 23 March 2015| publisher = Historic England}}</ref>

=== Present day ===
From 2007 to 2014, [[Urban Strawberry Lunch]] organised the day-to-day maintenance of St Lukes and coordinated exhibitions and events inside the grounds. In addition to this, they arranged showings of films, and many dance, poetry, and drama performances.<ref>{{Citation| url = http://www.usl.org.uk/content/LunchAtStLukes.aspx| title = Lunch at St Lukes| access-date = 9 April 2013| publisher = [[Urban Strawberry Lunch]]| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130613152312/http://www.usl.org.uk/content/LunchAtStLukes.aspx| archive-date = 13 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Citation| url = http://www.liverpool.com/events-features/st.-luke-s...-cinema.html| title = St. Luke's... cinema?| access-date = 9 April 2013| publisher = Trinity Mirror North West & North Wales| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100110035212/http://www.liverpool.com/events-features/st.-luke-s...-cinema.html| archive-date = 10 January 2010| url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{Citation| url = http://www.visitliverpool.com/things-to-do/attractions/search/st-lukes-bombed-out-church-p327651| title = St Luke's (bombed out) Church| access-date = 9 April 2013| publisher = Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 2014, [[Ambrose Reynolds]], former artistic director for [[Urban Strawberry Lunch]], joined other members of the community to create a new organisation, 'Bombed Out Church'; named after the building's colloquial name. They have since continued the work started by USL, maintaining the church as a creative hub for the local community.

Since 1981, the bombed out church has been commemorated in the name of the local [[Church of England]] [[parish]]:<ref>{{cite web |website=St Bride's |title=Liverpool Blitz 80th anniversary @ St Luke's Bombed-Out Church |date=6 May 2021 |url=https://stbridesliverpool.org.uk/our-events/2021/5/6/liverpool-blitz-80th-anniversary-st-lukes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202192406/https://stbridesliverpool.org.uk/our-events/2021/5/6/liverpool-blitz-80th-anniversary-st-lukes |archive-date=2 December 2021 |access-date=21 June 2023 }}</ref> {{as of|June 2023}}, the '''St Luke-in-the-City''' team parish consists of [[St Bride's Church, Liverpool]]; the [[Church of St Dunstan, Liverpool]]; St Michael-in-the-City; and [[Open Table Network|OpenTable]], an LGBTQIA+ [[fresh expression]].<ref>{{cite web |website=The Team Parish of St Luke in the City, Liverpool |title=(home page) |url=http://stlukeinthecity.org.uk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424014047/http://stlukeinthecity.org.uk/ |archive-date=24 April 2023 |access-date=21 June 2023 }}</ref>

==Architecture==

===Lost features===
Originally there were two [[aisle]]s, and the [[nave]] had a [[groin vault|groined]] ceiling, which was "richly ornamented".<ref name=hist/> The whole roof and the [[arcade (architecture)|arcades]] separating the aisles from the nave were lost as a result of the bomb damage.<ref name=nhl/> The roof of the tower has also been lost.<ref name=dest/> Many of the windows contained stained glass, but now only fragments of glass remain.<ref>{{Citation| url = http://www.stlukeliverpool.co.uk/#/stained-glass/4554285022| title = Stained Glass| access-date = 9 April 2013| publisher = St Luke's Church, Liverpool| archive-date = 12 August 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190812100645/http://www.stlukeliverpool.co.uk/#/stained-glass/4554285022| url-status = dead}}</ref> There was a [[ring of bells|ring]] of eight bells, cast in 1818 by William Dobson of [[Downham Market]] at a cost of £645 ({{Inflation|UK|645|1818|r=-4|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}).{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}<ref name=bells>{{Citation| url = http://www.stlukeliverpool.co.uk/#/the-bells/4551083646| title = The Bells| access-date = 9 April 2013| publisher = St Luke's Church, Liverpool| archive-date = 12 August 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190812100645/http://www.stlukeliverpool.co.uk/#/the-bells/4551083646| url-status = dead}}</ref> As a result of the fire in 1941, five of the bells fell from the tower and the other three were badly cracked. The clock, made by Roskell's of [[Derby]], also fell to the ground.<ref name=dest/> The three-[[manual (music)|manual]] [[pipe organ]] was also destroyed in the fire. It had been made by [[Gray and Davison]] in 1865, and improvements had been made to it by [[Rushworth and Dreaper]] in 1902.<ref>{{Citation| url = http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N10835| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130505155346/http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N10835| url-status = dead| archive-date = 5 May 2013| title = Lancashire (Merseyside), Liverpool, St. Luke in the City (N10835)| access-date = 9 April 2013| publisher = [[British Institute of Organ Studies]]}}</ref>

===Remaining structure===
[[File:Nave of St Luke's, Berry Street 3.jpg|thumb|right|View east along the nave]]
St Luke's is constructed in [[ashlar]] [[sandstone]], and is in [[English Gothic architecture#Perpendicular Gothic|Perpendicular]] style. Its plan currently consists of a five-[[bay (architecture)|bay]] nave, a four-bay chancel with an [[apse|apsidal]] end, and a west tower. There are porches in the angles between the tower and the nave, and between the nave and the chancel. The tower is in three stages, with polygonal [[buttress]]es at the corners. The bottom stage of the tower contains a west entrance. In the middle stage, on all sides, are three-light windows, a [[tracery|traceried]] [[frieze]], and a clock face. In the top stage are four-light windows under [[Ogive|ogival]] [[hood mould]]s. At the summit of the tower is a [[battlement]]ed [[parapet]], with flat-headed [[pinnacle]]s at the corners. Within the tower is the surviving [[cast iron]] bell frame, made in 1828 by George Gilliband.<ref name=nhl/> This is considered to be the first metal bell frame to be made in the world.<ref name=nhl/><ref name=bells/> Along the sides of the nave are five three-light windows, separated by panelled buttresses that rise to [[crocket]]ed pinnacles. The windows at the sides of the chancel also have three lights, and the east window has five lights. The chancel buttresses rise to octagonal [[finial]]s with flat tops. Inside the church is a surviving brick chancel arch.<ref name=nhl/> Under the church is a [[crypt]], which is not accessible to the general public. One of its windows has retained stained glass that depicts a [[liver bird]].<ref>{{Citation| url = http://www.stlukeliverpool.co.uk/#/the-crypt/4555474519| title = The Crypt| access-date = 9 April 2013| publisher = St Luke's Church, Liverpool| archive-date = 12 August 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190812100645/http://www.stlukeliverpool.co.uk/#/the-crypt/4555474519| url-status = dead}}</ref>

==External features==
[[File:Truce_statue_from_the_north.jpg|thumb|right|[[Christmas truce]] sculpture]]
The area around the church has never been used for burials, and was laid out as a garden in 1885.<ref name=pev/> Originally it was enclosed by a solid wall, with doorways under pointed arches. This was replaced between 1829 and 1832 by John Foster, junior, by the current enclosure. This consists of cast iron railings on sandstone [[plinth]] walls, and cast iron gates between sandstone [[pier (architecture)|piers]]. Steps lead down on all sides to the surrounding streets. The gate piers are panelled, and have crocketed heads. The whole structure was designated as a Grade II* listed building on 14 March 1975.<ref name=pev/><ref>{{National Heritage List for England |num= 1068380|desc= Railings, plinth walls, gates, piers and steps at Church of St Luke, Liverpool|access-date= 9 April 2013|mode=cs2|fewer-links=x}}</ref> In the churchyard is the Irish Famine Memorial, sculpted by [[Éamonn O'Doherty (sculptor)|Éamonn O'Docherty]], which has been erected to commemorate those who died as a result of the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Irish Famine]] in the middle of the 19th century.<ref>{{Citation| url = http://liverpoolwalks.co.uk/003/faminev.html| title = Irish Famine Memorial| access-date = 9 April 2013| publisher = Liverpool Walks| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130112234523/http://liverpoolwalks.co.uk/003/faminev.html| archive-date = 12 January 2013| url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.liverpoolmonuments.co.uk/memorials/famine01.html| title = Irish Famine Memorial| access-date = 9 April 2013| publisher = Liverpool Monuments}}</ref> It was opened by the [[President of Ireland]] in 1998, and carries inscriptions in [[Irish language|Gaelic]] and in English.<ref>{{Citation| last =Anon| title =Irish Influences in Liverpool| page =4| url =http://www.tu-chemnitz.de/phil/ifgk/germanistik/daf/Liverpool/Irish%20influences%20in%20Liverpool-corrected.pdf| access-date =10 April 2013}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
There is also a Christmas truce sculpture (2014), known as "All Together Now" by [[Andy Edwards (sculptor)|Andy Edwards]] in the garden, depicting a British and German soldier commencing a football game at Christmas 1914.

==See also==

*[[Grade II* listed buildings in Merseyside]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|St Lukes, Berry Street, Liverpool}}
*[http://www.bombedoutchurch.co.uk The History of St Luke's Bombed Out Church]
*[http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/in-the-mix/2011/05/05/liverpool-s-famous-st-luke-s-church-known-as-the-bombed-out-church-devastated-70-years-ago-today-100252-28637677/ Short article in the Liverpool Echo]
*[https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=uppf1o7b005hjgiuvdf4uta3gk@group.calendar.google.com&ctz=Europe/London Calendar of events]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20180221153640/http://www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk/stlukes/index.html Photographs from Liverpool Pictorial]

{{Green Liverpool}}
{{Liverpool B&S}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Lukes Church, Liverpool}}
[[Category:British churches bombed by the Luftwaffe|Liverpool]]
[[Category:Churches in Liverpool|Liverpool, Church of St Luke]]
[[Category:Ruins of churches destroyed during World War II]]
[[Category:Grade II* listed buildings in Liverpool]]
[[Category:Grade II* listed churches in Merseyside|Liverpool, Church of St Luke]]
[[Category:Parks and commons in Liverpool]]
[[Category:Gothic Revival church buildings in England]]
[[Category:Gothic Revival architecture in Merseyside]]