Birmingham: St Luke's Church
Overview
Grid reference: SP 68 855
The current building was built in 1902-3 to designs by Edward Mansell, replacing an earlier church of 1841-2. St Luke's is late Perpendicular in style and typical of the time but nevertheless still an important contribution to the local townscape. The west end fronts the very busy A38 which is used by commuters to the city centre and as the direct route to the M6.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave, aisles, chancel, north transept (extension of aisle), unfinished south west tower, converted west end, offices, vestry and below the chancel there is a basement church room with facilities. A corridor runs behind the east wall to connect the two vestries on either side of the chancel.
Dimensions:
Nave 12m by 17m North transept 10m by 11m.
Description of Archaeology and History
The current building was built in 1902-3 to designs by Edward Mansell, replacing an earlier church of 1841-2. Internal work to create a community area in the west end was carried out around 25 years ago. In the early 1990s offices were created to the south of the chancel, including a first floor clergy office.
Exterior Description
This building from the turn of the last century in late Perpendicular style is typical of the time but nevertheless still an important contribution to the local townscape. The west end fronts the very busy A38.
The nave and chancel have one continuous pitched roof and the aisles have lean-to roofs. The five aisle windows (three to the north) have pointed arches and are of three lights with cusped heads, the clearstorey windows have paired cusped lights in rectangular frames with cogged surrounds; these continue through to the chancel.
The vestries at the east end of the south aisle have two separate pitched roofs, one facing east and the other south. The south facing vestry has two thin windows of two lights under pointed arches and a high roundel with crocketed gables at either side. The east facing vestry has on the south side single cusped lights in rectangular frames and below these on the ground floor rectangular windows of domestic style.
The main entrance is at the west end which is dominated by a large west window of five lights with rectilinear tracery. The door below is flanked by two small windows with cusped heads and ornately gabled hood mould detailing, the doorway itself is a pointed arch with the door painted a bright blue. The stops of the doorway hoodmould has small carvings of figures on one side and animals on the other against a foliate background.
The truncated south west tower looks rather odd with a gently pitched roof and a slightly different tone of brickwork in which it was finished. The tower is of one stage and has a three light window in both the west and south facing walls. The building has a north porch with a separate pitched roof, this also has a window in the west elevation, of three lights but much shorter than the others described, with a four-centred arch head.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
20th century
Aisle
20th century s
Transept
20th century north
Tower (component)
20th century unfinished
Vestry
20th century
Chancel
19th Century
Historical Notes
1894 - 1894
Period Qualifier: 2
Building Materials
Brick
20th century red
Limestone
20th century dressings
Interior
Interior Description
Internally the west door has a small porch and then leads into the reception area, this is a standard conversion using two bays; WC facilities are provided under the tower and there is an open kitchen on the south side. The porch to the north is used as a storage room. The main west window is not visible internally, and only one of the single stained glass lights below is visible, the other is accessed through a cupboard.
The eastward view of the nave is a pleasant ensemble, particularly as the pews and choirstalls remain and the canopied reredos provides a good focal point under the east window, which has a deep ledge of about a metre. On the south of the chancel, the organ loft is a good feature; it has display pipes to the roof, a projecting balcony and a wooden screen to the floor.
At the west end of the nave the fibreboard has not been plastered over. The five bay arcade consists of simple pointed arches with continuous mouldings and a continuous hood mould with some carved head stops. There is a double recessed arch to the north of the chancel with a four-centred arch set within the taller pointed arch. The roof of the nave is arch braced with collar and crown posts taken down to moulded corbels.
The north transept of two bays contains a chapel and has an altar and reredos screen. There are no windows in the north wall of the chapel and in the east there is a short four light window with a four-centred arched head, recessed within a larger rounded arch with a hoodmould. Below this window there is a doorway which leads to a small kitchen, back entrance to the vestry and also to a modern external doorway.
The east end of the south aisle is finished by wooden panelling within a pointed archway. The rooms beyond this have been converted into offices on both the ground and first floors; there is also access to the basement rooms.
Fixtures and fittings
Pulpit
20th century Hexagonal, wooden with stone base and tracery detailing in the panels.
Altar
20th century Large heavy oak table, with carved detailing. There is also a smaller wooden altar in the north chapel. Plaque reads: This altar table was adapted from that which formally stood in the side chapel of St Asaph’s church in memory of William Henry and Elizabeth Watham and their daughters Mary Elizabeth Ellen Florence Rosina and Jessie.
Lectern
20th century Brass eagle and another of simple design in wood, the latter in memory of Mrs Nellie Hinton 7th May 1951.
Reredos
20th century Wooden canopied reredos 1926. Plaque to the north of the chancel reads: In memory of Albert Edward Heaton MA Vicar of this Parish 1909 – 1926 In the north chapel there is a wooden screen with panelling and glass at either end.
Font (component)
20th century A small octagonal wooden font stands behind the choir stalls but the main fixed font is in the south aisle. Stone, with a square base and rounded bowl, there is no inscription and two bands of carved detail. A wooden tester hangs above.
Stained Glass (window)
20th century • East window by Harvey and Ashley 1909. Shows Christ the Comforter surrounded by angels and other figures, also shows water of life. This window is indicative of the strong influence of Burne-Jones. Plaque in the chancel reads that it was given by Edmund Robinson Esq MD 3rd April 1909. • East window of the north chapel. Four saints. • Two small single light windows at the west end on either side of the main entrance. The Good Shepherd. The northernmost reads: In loving memory of Georgina Beales who went before to her rest on the 21st day of June 1898 aged 68 years and whose body lies in Ilford Cemetery Essex.
Plaque (component)
20th century • North chapel west wall. Brass plaque commemorating rebuilding of the Church, naming the builders and cost (£14,500) Consecration of the new church took place November 1903. • North chapel north wall. Brass plaque with another smaller surmounted onto it. The smaller was affixed to the foundation stone (1844) of the original church and the bottom plaque notes the destruction of that church in 1899 and the building and consecration of the present building in 1903. • North chapel north wall. Brass plaque, Daniel Alexander Dick/ died Aug 4th 1934 / Churchwarden, Diocesan lay reader. • North chapel east wall Brass plaque, To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Albert Edward Heaton MA Vicar 1909 – 1926 • North chapel east wall. Brass plaque commemorating the completion of the north chapel in 1954.
Inscribed Object
20th century • North chapel north wall. Marble tablet, Charles Sydney Oldham 1838 • North chapel north wall. Marble tablet with black surround, James Oldham 1847 • North chapel north wall. Marble tablet with black surround, Rev Robert Haigh MA 1847 • North chapel north wall. Marble tablet, James Henry Oldham Oldham 1816 • North chapel east wall. Marble tablet with chevron design and a dove, Elizabeth wife of Frederick Spencer Dale died 1864 aged 23
Organ (component)
20th century By Conacher and Sheffield. Date unknown but likely to be 1919-31. 2 Manual and pedal, 32 speaking stops.
Screen
20th century Screen below organ loft. Brass plaque commemorates Daisy Marguerite Hawlines Rogers who died March 14th 1950 aged 54 years. The screen was given by her husband.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SP 68 855
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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