St Luke's Church, Ilford facts for kids
St Luke's Church in Ilford is a special church building in east London. It belongs to the Church of England and is named after Saint Luke. It has a long history, starting over 100 years ago.
Contents
The Church's Beginning
St Luke's Church began as a small, temporary church building in 1909. It was set up in an area that was part of a larger church called St Clement's. This temporary church was called a "mission."
Designing the Permanent Church
A person named E. T. Dunn designed the main church building. He used strong materials like stone and red bricks. The style of the church looks like old Gothic churches, especially a type called "Perpendicular style." This style has tall, thin windows and detailed stone work. E. T. Dunn also designed another church nearby, St Barnabas' Church.
Building and Becoming a Parish
The permanent St Luke's Church was finished and officially opened in 1915. It was built with a main hall (called a nave) and two side sections (aisles). It also had parts sticking out on the sides, called transepts. The original plan was to add another section at the front, called a chancel, to make the church shaped like a cross from above, but this part was never built.
Just one year after the main church opened, in 1916, the area around St Luke's became its own official church district, called a parish. The old temporary church building from 1909 was then used as the parish hall, a place for meetings and events.
Changes Over Time
Rebuilding After Damage
During World War II, in 1940, London was bombed a lot in an event called the London Blitz. St Luke's Church was badly damaged. For many years, the church members had to use the old 1909 church hall for their services. The repairs and rebuilding of the main church were finally finished in 1954.
New Layout and Updates
In 1983, the inside of the church was changed. The main altar, which is usually at the east end, was moved to the west end of the building. This change allowed new rooms to be built at the geographical east end. These new areas included meeting rooms, a kitchen, toilets, and a small chapel. The church was also redecorated in 1998, making it look fresh and welcoming.
Who Uses the Church Today
Today, the Marthoma Church uses St Luke's Church for their Sunday services. The people of the Marthoma Church are mostly Malayali people, who come from a state in South India called Kerala.
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