Church of St Luke, Bedford Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester

The first St Luke's was a plain brick church built in 1804 by Rev Edward Smyth, one of a number of churches built on a speculative basis; licensed for public worship, but not consecrated. It was apparently bought in the mid‑1840s by Rev J H McGuire, and then in 1857 for £3,700 by Robert Gardner, whose wife, Ann, was buried in the graveyard. Although without a formal district, in the 1840's St Luke's was considered to serve a population of around 11,000. At the end of the Victorian period there was a slowly declining population of around 6,000.

Robert Gardner, Esq., of Chaseley and Lytham, the patron of the living, munificently resolved upon building a new and larger edifice, at his own sole cost. It was begun about Christmas, 1863, and stands upon the site of the old structure and part of the churchyard adjoining; the north elevation facing Bedford-street. The church is intended by the generous founder as a memorial to his late wife, who was a sister of William Atkinson, Esq., of Ashton Hayes, Cheshire. The remains of the deceased lady, who died in early life, were interred in the adjacent churchyard; and a beautiful stained glass window, by Wailes, of Newcastle, with a memorial inscription, has been placed in the east window, lighting the chancel. The present Incumbent is the Rev. W. A. Darby, M.A. The church is in the Decorated Gothic style. It contains nave and chancel, together about 90 ft. in length; a north aisle, and a small gallery at the west end, the whole number of scats being 740, of which 323 are free. The tower, which is prominently placed at the junction of Bedford and Rutland streets, is capped with a broach spire of good proportions, surmounted with a gilt coronal and vane, the total height being 160 ft. The walls of the church ore of Yorkshire Pierpoint stone, with Longridge and Hollington stone dressings. The boundary walls are of similar masonry, with ornamental iron railing, and gas-lamps at intervals. An entrance-gateway faces Russell-street; and all the gates are of characteristic design, in English oak. The approaches to the church are from the north and south, the former being the principal entrance; while access to the gallery is obtained, from the west end, by a stone-covered staircase, enriched with carved gargoyles, and crowned at the angle with an octagonal pinnacle. The enriched stonework here and on other portions of the building is exceedingly well executed, and is strictly in accordance with the decoration of the period. The arches between nave and aisle are supported by double iron columns picked out in colours, which add to the lightness of the church, and interfere as little as possible with the line of sight in any direction. Ail the seats and other internal fittings are of oak, the pulpit being farther embellished with ebony and walnut-wood. The whole of the interior fittings and decorations are remarkable for harmonious as well as chaste simplicity of design. A dwarf Caen stone wall determines the boundary of the chancel, and contrasts well with the deep colour of the encaustic tiles and with the oak work. The altar is approached by five steps. The carved Caen stone font, with marble shafts, standing at the west end of the nave, is of elaborate design, and has been presented by Mrs. Sebastian Bazley, the daughter of the patron. The altar-rail, of polished brass, with foliated standards, and all the gas fittings, are from Skidmore, of Coventry; and the heating and ventilating apparatus were supplied by Messrs. Haden, of Trowbridge. In addition to the east window already mentioned (which is a fine specimen of figure-painting) all the windows are enriched more or less by the introduction of stained glass, from the works of Messrs. Edmundson and Son, of Manchester, including a large figure of St. Luke the Evangelist, and the insertion of appropriate texts. The organ, which is placed in a chamber on the north side of the chancel, was built by Imhof and Mickle, of London, and is a powerful and delightfully sweet-toned instrument, possessing some novel and original features. The clock, which has three faces, is by Joyce, of Whitchurch, and is provided with Denison’s “gravity escapement,” which is well adapted to turret clocks. There is a single bell, of fine clear tone (G sharp), by Taylor, of Loughborough. The stonework is by Messrs. Ellis and Hinchcliffe, and the contractors for the whole building were Messrs. Bowden, Edwards, and Forster, under the superintendence of the architect, Mr. John Lowe, Chapel-walks, Manchester. [Illustrated London News. 48 17 February 1866 page 168].

Reference    Manchester Guardian 3 July 1865 page 2 - consecration
Reference     Manchester City News Notes and Queries 10 Feb 1912 page 2
Reference    Dobb:  Like a Mighty Tortoise.
Reference    Illustrated London News, 17 February 1866 page 168