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 old and special building. It used to be a parish church for the Church of England, which means it was the main church for a local area. Today, it's recognized as a Grade II* listed building, meaning it's historically important and protected.
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Building a Special Church
The idea for St Luke's Church started a long time ago, in 1860. On June 26, 1860, a special event called a "foundation stone laying" took place. This is when the first stone of a new building is officially put into place. Reverend W. Dalton, from another church nearby, helped with this important step.
The church was designed by an architect named G. T. Robinson from Leamington Spa. It was finished quickly and was officially opened on July 18, 1861. This opening ceremony is called "consecration," and it was led by the Bishop of Lichfield.
The Church Bells
In 1897, a set of eight bells was added to the church. These bells were made by a company called James Barwell in Birmingham. They are very special because they are the last complete set of bells ever made by that company.
Unique Design
A famous writer about buildings, Pevsner, once described St Luke's Church as "furiously unruly." This means he thought its design was very bold and unusual, standing out from other churches.
What Happened to the Church?
In 2014, some problems were discovered with St Luke's Church. Parts of the tower and spire were not safe, and the roof and floor had a problem called dry rot. The local church leaders, known as the Diocese of Lichfield, decided the church needed to close because there wasn't enough money to fix it. Even though English Heritage offered some funding, the church community couldn't raise the rest.
Efforts to Save the Building
Many people wanted to save the church. In 2016, over 1,500 people signed a petition to stop it from being torn down. Even though several groups, including a Sikh community, were interested in buying it, the church officially closed in 2017.
The Church Today
Today, the old St Luke's Church building has a new life. It is now used as an antiques shop, where people can buy old and interesting items. The church community that used to meet there now gathers at St. Luke's School, which is not far away.
Another Local Church Building
In the same area, there is also a special building on Pond Lane called a tin tabernacle. This is a church building made from corrugated iron, and it is used as a Mission hall for religious activities.
