Regarding St Lukes Church here in Manchester, do you know its story? St Luke’s Church stands on Cheetham Hill Road. It is a testament to Manchester’s rapid growth during the Industrial Revolution.
St Luke’s Church is a commissioners’ church. These churches were built with money from Parliament. The Church Building Acts of 1818 and 1824 provided the funds. These acts aimed to accommodate growing congregations in industrial towns. St Luke’s construction began in 1836. It finished in 1839. The ashlar method was used. This involves finely dressed stone. The architectural style is Perpendicular Gothic.
Frank Taylor Bellhouse praised St Luke’s design in 1841. He noted its excellence. Bellhouse highlighted the architect’s genius. He felt the church deserved greater recognition.
Originally, St Luke’s could accommodate over 1500 worshippers. Inside, the walls were a warm stone color. Mouldings were white with gilded details. The ceiling over the nave featured oak tracery. Pews imitated grained oak lined with crimson.
J.W. Fraser commissioned William Hill to design the organ. Fraser was a wealthy local musician. The organ was completed in 1840. Mendelssohn himself gave a recital on it in April 1847.
St Luke’s was always a stronghold of Protestantism. Rector Hugh Stowell faced libel accusations in 1840. The case involved claims about a Roman Catholic’s penance.
Sadly, most of St Luke’s Church was demolished in the late 1980s. It had fallen into disuse. Today, only the tower and west end survive. These remnants are Grade II listed.
The churchyard was once a fashionable burial place. Now it is overgrown. However, one treasure was saved. Alessandro Turchi’s painting, The Flight into Egypt, now hangs in the City Art Gallery.
Beneath the church lies a crypt. It is supported by pillars and archways. Shelves may have held coffins.
The foundation stone was laid in June 1836. Trustees included Edward Loyd and others. T.W. Atkinson was the architect. He faced accusations of plagiarism. Some said St Luke’s resembled St James’s Church in Louth. Atkinson defended his design. He emphasized the necessity of using established architectural rules.
The church’s consecration was a significant event. It symbolized divine truth reaching a populous district. The interior fittings matched the grandeur of the exterior. The pulpit featured carved oak figures. An eagle formed the reading desk.
St Luke’s cost around £14,000. Private subscriptions funded it entirely. The church’s legacy remains. It is a reminder of Manchester’s vibrant past. Its tower stands as a landmark. It connects us to the city’s architectural heritage.