Nominal: 2764 Hz Weight: 59 lbs Diameter: 13.25" Bell 1 of 8
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1932
Dove Bell ID: 53106 Tower ID: 19603 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Deptford: St Luke
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 366 780
The church was designed by T H Watson and built in 1870-2. Externally the church appears almost unchanged, with the exception of a vestry added to the north of the chancel in 1927, from which a flying buttress to the tower springs, presumably added to attempt to arrest the outward movement of the tower walls which is still a problem today. The dormer windows in the nave are also a later addition, but these are practically invisible from outside. The windows were added and the interior was radically subdivided and re-ordered in 1976-8 by Maguire and Murray, with the apse and tower crossing retained for worship and the nave and aisles subdivided in both planes to provide halls and first floor office space.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Originally a cruciform church with aisled nave of six bays, north-east vestry and porch, south-east sacristy, crossing tower, apsidal chancel.
Dimensions:
Nave approx. 32m by 7m.
Description of Archaeology and History
Records on Heritage Gateway and the Archaeology Data Service indicate many records within close proximity of the site. Heritage records should be referred to before commencing any work on the site.
Records include a Neolithic stone axe found to the east, a Roman road and Saxon cemetery, Henry VIII’s Royal Naval Dockyard at Canings Wharf to the E and also Sayes Court, home to the late C17 diarist John Evelyn, presumably inspiring the name of this road.
Small area of rough grass at west of site, and recent (self-sown) trees. Abundant ivy around entrance and buttresses and other plants in the building.
Exterior Description
The architectural style chosen is early Decorated, ie of the late 13th century, with simple Decorated tracery. Vertical emphasis is given by the impressive tower, which makes a powerful visual statement, visible from some distance. This is of two stages, the lower virtually obscured by the conical roof of the chancel apse, but with angle buttresses to a string course. Above this is the belfry stage, pierced by two tall pointed lancets with plain hoodmoulds and louvres. The corners are embraced by octagonal turrets, with projecting gargoyles discharging water from the roof. The parapet is corbelled out, and has a moulded cornice above a row of pointed openings. There is also a stair turret at the south-east corner, rising from three octagonal stages divided by string courses in rubble to an upper stage of smooth stone, beneath a moulded conical cap with billet around the eaves. It has a crocketed finial which rises almost to the height of the corbelling under the parapet.
The chancel apse is framed by the tower behind. It is illuminated by three wide pointed lancets with a continuous hoodmould and external shafts with moulded capitals. Above these windows is a string course with a blank eaves band, beneath is another string course under which are three round-headed blind arches, with sturdy buttresses of two weatherings between.
The east aspect is further complicated by asymmetrical vestries, the southern, original vestry having a lean-to roof to the chancel, the 1927 vestry on the north side having a flat roof. Both east walls are pierced by 2-light 4-centred windows with a quatrefoil in the head. An entrance passage leads along the north side of the vestry into the church, the shouldered doorway below a circular window containing a quatrefoil. Another visual layer to this aspect is provided by the east ends of the gabled aisles, which are pierced by 2-light pointed windows with trefoils in the heads. All in all, this is an impressive approach to the church, and indeed it might be said that all the architectural detail has been massed here.
The rest of the church, is much plainer, with simple pointed 2-light windows to the aisles and in the west end. The naves have separate gabled roofs. In the north-west and south-west corners are two small porches/stores, again with sloping slated roofs.
A door in the middle of the south aisle gives access via an internal door to the nave hall space and via steps to first floor offices occupied by a local charity. Within these spaces, only the windows, the exposed piers of marble with carved floriate capitals and the complex timber roofs with tie-beams and struts as seen from the first floor offices betray the ecclesiastical origin of the building.
Building Fabric and Features
Cruciform Plan
19th century
Nave
19th century 6-bay aisled
Vestry
19th century
Porch
19th century
Sacristy
19th century
Tower (component)
19th century in the crossing
Chancel
19th century apsidal
Building Materials
Brick
19th century core
Kentish Ragstone
19th century rubble facing
Tile
19th century levelling courses
Bath Stone
19th century and Portland stone dressings
Slate
19th century roof exterior
Timber
19th century roof interior
Painted Plaster
19th century interior walls
Wood
19th century block floor
Interior
Interior Description
The interior of the east end which was intended for worship has been reordered to make the best use of the available space. The east windows have deeply splayed reveals and are therefore quite narrow, but nevertheless illuminate the worship space adequately. The chancel arch and the crossing arches are pointed with a hollow chamfer, terminating with trumpet consoles, while the arches to the vestry and sacristy die into the walls.
The organ has been brought to the west end of the worship space, at the back of the crossing, and between this and the apse there are rows of simple bench pews facing inwards on three sides. The chancel is simply and sparsely furnished. The floors are of woodblock, the sanctuary laid with carpet.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century table
Pulpit
20th century wood, hexagonal, plain with tongue-and-groove construction
Lectern
20th century plain wood
Font (component)
20th century
Pew (component)
19th century simple bench pews c 1880
Organ (component)
20th century 2-manual pipe organ built by Bishop & son, 1977. Includes some pipework from previous Bevington organ.
Stained Glass
20th century The inner three east windows have the Crucifixion flanked by St Luke and St Matthew. The windows are signed Carl Edwards & Powell, Blackfriars Lane, London EC4 – a significant artist; windows by the two partners are uncommon. 1954. Good Samaritan window at east of former south aisle. Unsigned, but possibly original fitting.
Bells
Nominal: 2611 Hz Weight: 62 lbs Diameter: 13.63" Bell 2 of 8
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1932
Dove Bell ID: 53107 Tower ID: 19603 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 2320 Hz Weight: 82 lbs Diameter: 15.13" Bell 3 of 8
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1932
Dove Bell ID: 53108 Tower ID: 19603 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 2068 Hz Weight: 122 lbs Diameter: 16.88" Bell 4 of 8
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1932
Dove Bell ID: 53109 Tower ID: 19603 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1840 Hz Weight: 161 lbs Diameter: 19" Bell 5 of 8
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1932
Dove Bell ID: 53110 Tower ID: 19603 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1740 Hz Weight: 189 lbs Diameter: 20" Bell 6 of 8
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1932
Dove Bell ID: 53111 Tower ID: 19603 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1548 Hz Weight: 264 lbs Diameter: 22.25" Bell 7 of 8
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1932
Dove Bell ID: 53112 Tower ID: 19603 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1380 Hz Weight: 383 lbs Diameter: 25" Bell 8 of 8
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1932
Dove Bell ID: 53113 Tower ID: 19603 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers date from 1877.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 366 780
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard is closed for burial by order in council.
The date of the burial closure order is There is no churchyard
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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