St Luke Old Street facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Luke's Old Street |
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2006 photo
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| Location | Old Street, London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England (Deconsecrated) |
| History | |
| Founded | 1733 |
| Dedication | St Luke |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Preserved Used as concert venue by the LSO |
| Architect(s) | John James and Nicholas Hawksmoor |
| Years built | 1727–1733 |
| Closed | 1959 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | London |
St Luke's is a very old church building in central London. It belongs to the Church of England, which is a Christian church. From 1733 to 1959, it was a local church for the people living nearby.
The church was designed by two famous architects, John James and Nicholas Hawksmoor. It is a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very important historic building that must be protected.
After 1959, the church was closed because of damage. It stood empty for about 40 years. But since 2003, it has been a music center run by the London Symphony Orchestra. It is now called LSO St Luke's.
This building is home to the LSO's special programs for the community and music education. The main part of the building can hold up to 372 people. The LSO uses it for practice, and many other musicians use it for concerts and recording music. There are also extra rooms in the basement for musicians to practice.
Contents
How St Luke's Church Began
St Luke's Church is located on Old Street, just north of the City of London. It was built to help the church of St Giles-without-Cripplegate. In the 1700s, London was growing fast, and more churches were needed.
The old area of St Giles was split into two parts. The part outside the City of London became the new parish of St Luke's. Building the church started in 1727 and finished in 1733. It was officially opened on October 18th, which is St Luke's day.
Who Designed the Church?
The architects were John James and Nicholas Hawksmoor. John James likely designed the main part of the church. Nicholas Hawksmoor probably designed the tall tower at the west end. He also designed the unusual obelisk spire, which is a tall, pointed stone pillar.
The spire had a unique weather vane on top. It looked like a dragon's head with a fiery tail. People in the area sometimes joked about it, giving the church the nickname "lousy St Luke's."
Why Did the Church Have Problems?
The church was built on ground that was often wet, near a marshy area called Moorfields. Because of this, the ground slowly sank over time. This problem, called subsidence, became very noticeable in the 1900s. You can still see the effects today in the bent shapes of the windows on the north side of the building.
Who Was Buried at St Luke's?
Some notable people were buried in the small churchyard:
- Mark Catesby (1683–1749), a naturalist who studied plants and animals. His grave is now lost.
- William Caslon the elder (1692/1693–1766), who was famous for creating new styles of letters for printing. His son, William Caslon II (1720–1778), and other family members were also buried here. Their grave is still marked by a special stone tomb.
- George Dance the Elder (1695–1768), an architect. His grave is also lost.
Before the church was turned into a music center, the basement area was cleared in the year 2000. Over 1,000 burials were carefully recorded and moved to a different cemetery. A TV show called "Changing Tombs" (2001) showed this process.
From Old Church to Music Hub
In 1959, because of the ground sinking and fewer people living in the area, the church was closed. The area it served became part of the St Giles church again. The next year, parts of St Luke's, like the font (for baptisms) and the organ case, were moved to other churches. The roof was taken off for safety reasons.
For about 40 years, St Luke's was an empty building, even though it was a very important historic site. Trees even started to grow inside it!
How Was the Church Transformed?
After some ideas to turn it into offices were discussed, the church was finally changed into a music center for the London Symphony Orchestra. This project was designed by architects from Levitt Bernstein. They put a heavy concrete roof on the building to block out noise from the nearby road.
The new roof looks similar to the old one. Its weight is held up by tall steel columns inside the hall that look like trees. The sound inside the hall can be changed for different types of music, from a full orchestra to a single singer. This is done using special sound-absorbing panels that can be rolled out. The seats and stage can also be moved around. The work was finished in 2002, and the center opened in early 2003.
Exciting Events at LSO St Luke's
LSO St Luke's often hosts open practice sessions by the London Symphony Orchestra before their big concerts. It has also become known for unique events that mix different types of music, like classical, jazz, and electronic sounds.
The junior department of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance has also performed here. Their young musicians play in seasonal concerts with their orchestras and bands.
Many famous musicians have recorded concerts at LSO St Luke's for TV and radio:
- In 2006, the BBC recorded concerts by Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon.
- Sir Elton John also recorded a concert here to promote his album The Captain & the Kid.
- In 2007, MTV recorded a concert by the band Editors.
- Patti Smith, Philip Glass, and Lenny Kaye performed a tribute to Allen Ginsberg in 2007.
- Van Morrison recorded a concert for BBC Four Sessions in 2008.
- In September 2008, Duffy played here for BBC Sessions.
- In December 2008, BBC Four broadcast a special music program with a performance by The Sixteen choir at St Luke's.
