Barrow-in-Furness: St Luke
Overview
Grid reference: SD 213 690
A large 1960s church of red brick, with a separate tall open concrete campanile. The church stands on the corner of St Luke’s Road and Roose Street in the south-eastern suburbs of Barrow-in-Furness. It was completed in 1965 using an ICBS grant, to designs by Cruickshank and Seward of Manchester. It is a block with low-pitched gabled roof, cross-gables to the six bays, each pierced by a tall 2-light with gabled head, and a glazed entrance under an internal balcony.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Rectangular nave and chancel in one with north aisle, hall and toilets, south-east Lady Chapel. Open detached campanile on the north side.
Dimensions:
Main worship space approx 24m (85ft) x 14m (50ft).
Description of Archaeology and History
The present church building was built in 1963-4 as a replacement for a Victorian church on the site which had been damaged by enemy bombing in World War II. This “old” church was one of four new Barrow parish churches named after the Evangelists and built in 1877-8 to serve the expanding population of the industrial port, to similar designs by Lancaster architects Paley & Austin, who did much of Victorian Barrow as it expanded. The money (6,000 pounds each) was raised by James Ramsden, the developer of Barrow, the Duke of Buccleuch and the Duke of Devonshire.
They were intended as temporary buildings, of which only St Mark’s survives, (heavily rebuilt after war damage), and were simultaneously dedicated by the Bishop of Sodor & Man in 1878, and consecrated by the Bishop of Carlisle in 1879. Survival of archaeological evidence of the old timber-framed brick church is possible, though such would be of limited interest. Drawings, photographs and descriptions of the old church survive, including a pencil sketch in the church itself. Stained glass and other decoration was by Burlisson & Grylls, some of which is now in the new church.
Following the war damage an appeal for 30,000 pounds for a new building was launched in 1958, and the new church was begun in 1963 and consecrated in 1965. The architects were Cruikshank and Seward of Manchester. The ICBS gave a grant, one Committee member stated; “I cannot say I like the church, but nowadays one cannot turn it down on aesthetic grounds”. Stained glass was commissioned from Dom Charles Norris of Buckfast Abbey.
Exterior Description
This is a modest 1960s church, a block with a low pitched gabled roof and cross-gables to the six bays, each pierced by a tall 2-light with gabled head. The roofline follows this giving a saw-tooth profile. The west wall has a glazed entrance under an internal balcony housing the organ, lit by a broad gable window. The north aisle and hall with strip windows around the eaves housing the usual facilities wrap around the church on the north and east sides. The open detached campanile is of concrete, cross-braced and with a simple copper cap housing the bell.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
5-light window in the Lady Chapel with cross of intertwining colourful patterns of dale de verre glass by Dom Charles Norris of Buckfast Abbey. There is also a figure of St Luke in a north aisle window by Shrigley & Hunt, with St Luke's symbol and the Agnus Dei in roundels, rescued from the east window of the old church which had been blown out by a bomb.
Nave
20th century rectangular nave and chancel in one
Chancel
20th century rectangular nave and chancel in one
Aisle
20th century north aisle
Church Hall
20th century component
Lady Chapel
20th century south-east
Bell Tower (monument)
20th century open detached campanile
Building Materials
Concrete
20th century concrete and steel frame
Steel
20th century concrete and steel frame
Brick
20th century red brick walls
Copper
20th century roof of main church only
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is conventional for the period and a good complete example, filled with good plain benches orientated east, plain altar table, large plain cross on the blank wall behind the altar as reredos, all c 1965 except some plain Victorian furnishings from the old church. There is a south Lady Chapel with good stained glass. Woodblock floor mostly covered in brown patterned carpet, vault effect panelled ceiling.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century plain table
Reredos
20th century large plain cross on the wall
Pulpit
20th century beaten copper drum on steel legs, with repousse figures of angles and St Luke's symbol, inlaid colourful mosaic panels, an attractive piece by W Soukup
Font (component)
20th century concrete cylinder font with circular steps and domed wooden lid by W Soukup
Organ (component)
19th century from the old church, by Hardy of Stockport
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers from 1879.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SD 213 690
Burial and War Grave Information
The church/building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
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
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