North Thornaby: St Luke
Overview
Grid reference: NZ 457 179
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Cruciform with aisled 4-bay nave, west porches, south vestry / organ chamber, north-east tower base.
Dimensions:
Nave c 21m x 7.5m, now divided in half.
Footprint of Church buildings: 725 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
Thornaby is an ancient township mentioned in Domesday, the 12th-century church of St Peter still stands on the Green. North Thornaby is an early 20th-century suburb, adjacent to but still physically distinct from the neighbouring conurbations of Middlesbrough and Stockton-on-Tees on the other side of the looping river.
The church was built in 1897-1904 to serve the new suburb, designed by W S Hicks of the locally prolific firm of Hicks & Charlewood of Newcastle. As noted previously the tower was never built as designed, but elevations, plans and interior views are held by the ICBS who gave a grant. The nave was subdivided and converted into a community hall in 1978 with storage rooms and toilets etc in the aisles, by Ferrey & Mennim of York.
The archaeological potential of the site is low as this was farmland on the reclaimed flood plain before the church was built, but there was early industrial development nearby, and reference should be made to the Historic Environment Record if any development of the site is being considered.
Exterior Description
This is a fine design by one of the leading North-East architect practices. It is in the Norman Transitional and Early English styles executed in a very academic manner, with parts of the clearstorey and tower in the later style with pointed arches, clearly intending to suggest an archaeological development of the building.
The broad stump of the north-east tower is in itself an impressive and dominant feature of the main elevation. It sits in the angle of north transept and chancel with a truncated octagonal stair turret at the exposed corner, and has a string course and 'applied' east gable pierced by a 2-light plate tracery window. Buttresses of two weatherings and coped gables throughout, plain cross finials to gables, and mostly original lead rainwater goods.
The transepts have 'aisles', again just an applied facade, and one of these takes up the north face of the stump, cleverly creating the effect of a shallow porch within a round-headed moulded doorway of three recessed orders; the other 'aisles' have a single lancet. The transepts have two pointed lancets in the gable clearstorey above two large round-headed windows, with a string-course between.
The aisles have a pair of round-arched lancets to each bay, the clearstorey above with single such lancets. The west facade of the nave is of three stages defined by string-courses. Large round west window in the gable with recessed frame and cusping flanked by gabletted buttresses, above two tall round-headed lancets within arcading enclosing flanking blind lights. The lower stage is blind. There are round-headed doorways of three recessed orders in canted porches at the west end of the aisles with carved tympana, imposts and lintels.
The east facade has two stages, with three stepped pointed clearstorey lancets, underneath the string-course three arch-headed lights. The south vestry has a lean-to roof, and the angle with buttress is a canted porch with plain doorway with lintel. The chancel clearstorey above has two such lancets in continuation of the aisles.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
late 19th / early 20th century 4 bay aisled nave
Porch
late 19th / early 20th century west porches
Vestry
late 19th / early 20th century south vestry
Tower (component)
late 19th / early 20th century north-east tower base
Building Materials
Sandstone
late 19th / early 20th century Uneven courses of squared sandstone
Ashlar
late 19th / early 20th century ashlar dressings
Slate
late 19th / early 20th century Welsh slate roof
Interior
Interior Description
The interior previously impressed through the enormous spaces and fine dimensions and massing. The arcades have high round arches carried on alternate octagonal piers and columns with moulded capitals, the roof has been ceiled in. This and the introduction of solid screens across the nave and along the aisles and west bay with double doors to each bay below a panelled light-stained pine gallery has undoubtedly compromised the spatial quality. The rooms behind the screens, and the galleries, appear to be mainly used for storage, the nave is a hall. The lower walls and screens are yellow, with pine dado at capital height above which the walls are white. Seating is open-backed 1950s chairs, the floors are woodblock, mostly under red carpet.
Looking east, the short chancel has a lower round arch to the vestry and tower space, the east windows have rere-arches and arcading, and there are transverse arches to the transepts. The complex roof structures are visible here. There arm remnant sections of oak Gothic screens. Two flights of steps lead to the sanctuary and the High Altar. Lady Chapel decked in blue in the north transept, and a further altar against the organ case in the south.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century Early English High Altar with gilded frame, finials and green brocade, modern catalogue pine to the chapels.
Reredos
20th century Gothic screen
Pulpit
20th century Hexagonal wood, plain
Lectern
20th century brass eagle
Font (component)
20th century Plain octagonal stone font with 'ihs' carved on one face.
Plaque (component)
20th century Several plain brass plaques
Organ (component)
20th century A fine 2-manual pipe organ by J J Binns of Leeds
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers from 1909
Bishop's chair and other chairs, neo-Jacobean style
Churchyard
Grid reference: NZ 457 179
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.
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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