St Luke's Church, Blakenhall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Luke's Church, Blakenhall |
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St Luke's Church, Blakenhall
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| 52°34′20.21″N 2°7′47.28″W / 52.5722806°N 2.1298000°W | |
| Location | Blakenhall |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | None |
| Previous denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Conservative Evangelical |
| History | |
| Status | Deconsecrated |
| Dedication | St Luke |
| Consecrated | 18 July 1861 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Architect(s) | George Thomas Robinson |
| Groundbreaking | 1860 |
| Completed | 1861 |
| Closed | 2017 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Wolverhampton St Luke |
| Deanery | Wolverhampton |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Walsall |
| Diocese | Diocese of Lichfield |
St Luke's Church in Blakenhall, Wolverhampton, is a very important historical building. It used to be a parish church for the Church of England. A parish church serves a local community for religious services. This church is so special that it is listed as Grade II* listed, meaning it's a building of more than special interest.
Contents
The Church's Early Days and Design
The first stone for St Luke's Church was placed on June 26, 1860. This important event was led by Reverend W. Dalton. He was the vicar of St Philip's Church in Penn.
Who Designed St Luke's Church?
The church was designed by a talented architect named G. T. Robinson. He was from Leamington Spa. The building was officially opened for religious use on July 18, 1861. This ceremony was performed by the Bishop of Lichfield.
The Bells of St Luke's
In 1897, eight special bells were added to the church. These bells were made by James Barwell in Birmingham. They are very unique because they are the last complete set of bells ever made by that company.
What Happened to St Luke's Church?
In 2014, some sad news came out about the church building. Parts of its tower and spire were not safe. Also, the roof and floor had "dry rot," which is a type of fungus that damages wood.
Why the Church Closed
The Diocese of Lichfield, which is the church's regional authority, wanted to close the church officially. This was because the local church members could not raise enough money to fix the building. Even though English Heritage offered some funding, it wasn't enough.
Efforts to Save the Building
Many people wanted to save the church from being torn down. In 2016, over 1,500 people signed a petition to protect it. However, the church still closed its doors in 2017.
New Life for the Old Church
After closing, several groups were interested in buying the building. One of these groups was a Sikh congregation. Today, the old church building has a new purpose. It is now used as an antiques shop. The original church community now meets at St. Luke's School, which is nearby.
Another Local Church Building
There is also another small church building in the area. It is a tin tabernacle on Pond Lane. A tin tabernacle is a simple church building made from corrugated iron. This one is used as a Mission hall.
