Church of St Luke Cheetham Hill Manchester

Generally considered the best early Gothic Revival church in Manchester, St Luke’s was built in the then prosperous area of Cheetham Hill and the large churchyard became one of the most fashionable places to be buried. The style is Perpendicular Gothic, but the tower avoids the pasteboard character so common in churches of that period. The church was always a stronghold of Protestantism and it achieved notoriety when the rector, Hugh Stowell, was accused of libel in 1840. He had stated that a poor Roman Catholic had been required by his priest to do penance by crawling on his hands and knees for four hours a day on the pavement in nearby Smedley Lane before the priest would administer him the Sacraments. The priest's action for libel was successful but the decision was overturned on appeal. The church was declared redundant 1 August 1988, only the tower surviving. The area is now far from fashionable, and the churchyard is choked with weeds. But one of the church's prize possessions has been saved. It is a fine Roman Baroque painting of The Flight into Egypt by Alessandro Turchi which now hangs in the City Art Gallery in Mosley Street. Fancy pipework from organ front reinstalled in St Thomas Radcliffe 1975 (Ref PJ Gooderson - Thomas & John Page 18)

PEVSNER - A remarkable design, still pre-archaeological, but more responsible than most Gothic churches of the thirties. Slim west tower with a fine crocketed spire and tall windows. Nave and aisles, the aisles with slim two light Perpendicular windows, the clerestory with two small two light ones per bay. Short chancel and low East: vestry. The western entrance hall has a pretty tracery stuccoed ceiling. The church has piers with capitals trying to be Perp. The galleries are preserved. The East wall is panelled all over with tracery and also has some niches with canopies.   Big, contemporary, much canopied organ on the west gallery.   Gothic box pews and pulpit. The font must be brought in from Flanders. Rocks and rising plants, and between them three seated saint, typical of the eighteenth century in proportions, attitude and design. Painting - Flight into Egypt, Spanish 17th century, trimmed.

ST LUKE, CHEETHAM - About a mile and a half from Manchester, on the York Road, there stands a beautiful church, built in the Gothic style of architecture of the period of the fifteenth century. Situated on elevated ground, it attracts the eye at unexpected distances, wearing a sweet look from whatever point the view may be taken. The original design of the structure is stated to have been of rare beauty, but its dimensions were curtailed through motives of economy. However, this may have been, the present appearance of the edifice is perfectly satisfactory. The architect, Mr T W Atkinson, was formerly a working stonemason. The interior, like the exterior, is light and elegant; and the churchyard, dotted with headstones, is also in good keeping. There is here no wealth of trees to rival Kensal Green, or garlands of everlasting to vie with Pere la Chaise; yet there is a sufficiency of wild herbs and scattered flowers to take from death the heart-chill which is generally attached to his presence.  [Richard Wright Proctor: Literary Reminiscences and Gleanings. Manchester 1860 page 124-125]

St Luke's was the outcome of a private subscription, raised mostly by the gentlemen present at the consecration. At that period the only churches existing in the rural deanery of Cheetham were St Mark's, Cheetham Hill, consecrated in 1794; Blackley Chapel (St Peter's) which existed in 1545 and was rebuilt in 1844; Christ Church Harpurhey, consecrated in 1838, and All Saints Chapel, Newton Heath, which existed in 1573 and was rebuilt in 1814. For the newly arisen fashionable suburb on the north side of the town, the church accommodation was quite inadequate. So the Loyds, the Winters, Chippindalls, Garretts, Barratts, Glovers Burys, etc. determined to have a church of their own, and one which should surpass anything then existing in Manchester or the neighbourhood. The founders selected the designs of a resident man of genius, Thomas Whitlam Atkinson, who from having been originally a journeyman stonemason or stone carver, became, it may be fairly said, one of the most distinguished architects ever associated with Manchester. Procter tells us that the original design of this structure was of rare beauty, but its dimensions were curtailed through motives of economy. This is scarcely correct. The first designs originally submitted by Atkinson were not carried into effect, the architect subsequently making a separate study of almost every part of the church. Atkinson's work may be estimated by the fact that upwards of 500 drawings were made, in many instances three or four drawings having been furnished for a single object. The result was the elegant structure at Cheetham Hill. The style is what may be described as the Perpendicular of the 14th and 15th centuries. But when the work was done, Atkinson was assailed as a plagiarist. In some quarters it was strongly insinuated, and in fact openly stated, that the design of the church was neither more nor less than a copy of the celebrated Lincolnshire church, St James's, Louth. Atkinson publicly met the charge, and clearly proved that it was groundless. His words on the comparison between the two equally beautiful towers and spires of Louth and St Luke's, Cheetham Hill may be read with interest just now; "In one material respect only do the tower and spire of Louth and Cheetham church correspond; in both the relative proportions of the tower and spire are the same. The spires of both have crockets and may correspond perhaps in other similar minor details; but what is to become of us if we are to refrain from the use of mere necessary and everyday detail of our art under the fear of being charged with copying the works of those who have happened to live before us? How, indeed, are we to go on if in art reduced, as is architecture, to positive rule and dependent on fixed proportions we are at every turn to have thrown in our teeth the fact of other before us having applied rules and proportions from which we cannot deviate without positive fault? Between the two dangers you place us in a cleft stick." Finally, he remarked: "the world will judge the merits of the church at Cheetham, but be they great or be they small, I must lay absolute claim to them." The verdict of public opinion at this jubilee of the consecration of the church will, we think give Atkinson credit for all the merits of his work. The gifted architect, who also furnished the drawings for another church consecrated at the same time (St Barnabas, Openshaw) on leaving Manchester went to Hamburg, and thence to St Petersburg, dying at Lower Walmer on 13 August 1881. In Axon's "Annals" it is stated that Atkinson "gave up his profession in order to travel, and was almost the first to open out the regions of Eastern Russia. He wrote "Oriental and Western Siberia: Explorations," 1858; "Travels in the Region of the Upper and Lower Amoor," 1860. His widow published "Recollections of the Tartar Steppes," 1863; and his daughter is the writer of "Lives of the Queens of Prussia." [Manchester Guardian 19 October 1889 page 9]

ST LUKE, CHEETHAM HILL - The church at Cheetham Hill was consecrated the next day; and the opulent town of Manchester may survey with reasonable pride the noble structure which has here been raised. The church is so happily placed as to form a distinguished ornament to one of the principal approaches, while it stands on a point from which the light and influence of divine truth may be poured over a very important and populous district. It has been built, like that at Broughton, under the acts of William IV. and Victoria, and the patronage is in the hands of trustees. The architect is Mr. Atkinson, who has combined with great skill two points not often realised in the same structure, comfortable accommodation and architectural effect. The style is decorated English; and few parish churches offer a more magnificent spectacle, either externally or internally. It is probable that 1500 persons might be seated in it; and it is certain that a much larger number were collected on the morning when the bishop preached. The fittings of the interior correspond in elegance with the grandeur of the elevation. The pulpit, carved out of solid oak, and surrounded with figures in high relief, resembles the magnificent pulpits which are the ornament of the Flemish churches. An eagle with outspread wings forms the front of the reading-desk; and, bearing the sacred Scriptures, seems going forth to carry the message of the word of God to all the world. Every part of the church has been finished with equal elegance. Ornament may seem to have been scattered somewhat too profusely over the east end; but it is hard to note excess where there is so much to admire, and where the ornament itself is of so pure a character. This church, with its approaches and other expenses, has not cost much less than £14,000. This sum was wholly raised by private subscriptions. The collection after the bishop's sermon was £113; and the sermon has been since printed, at the particular request of the trustees. [Church of England Magazine Volume VIII January-June 1840, page 69-72]

ROYAL ACADEMY 913, 960. St. Luke's Church, Cheetham Hill, Manchester. T. W. Atkinson.—-An exterior and interior view of this structure are comprised in these designs. The church has a spire not inelegant, but the architecture partakes too much of the light and flimsy character of the modern Gothic. The interior is worthy of notice, on account of the fittings up, which in point of character are much above the usual mode of arrangement. The reading desk and pulpit are placed on opposite sides of the church, and are very different in design. The former is not a secondary pulpit, but is in reality a desk, sustained upon a large eagle. The pulpit is supported by a group of statues, of a large size. The altar is embellished with a painting and two statues in niche, and the pewing is in the form of the ancient open seats, with poppy heads. or all the “Metropolitan Churches,” as the small and mean buildings now seen about London are called, we do not remember to have seen one equally well arranged or fitted up with so much propriety; and, although the architecture has little to recommend it, the decorations are pleasing, from the absence of that meeting-house character which is so apparent in the generality of the above class of churches. [Gentleman's Magazine, Vol XIV, July 1840 page 67

THE NEW CHURCH AT CHEETHAM – The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of a new church, to be dedicated to St Luke, in the township of Cheetham, took place on Wednesday week. Underneath the stone was deposited a brass plate bearing the following inscription: “St Luke’s Church, Cheetham, Lancashire. This edifice dedicated to the performance of Divine worship according to the tenets of the Protestant Established Church of England, is built from a fund raised by private voluntary contributions. The first stone was laid on Wednesday 29th day of June 1836, by the first trustees, Edward Loyd Esq, Robert Garnett, John Chippendall, James Hibbert Wanklyn and Gilbert Winter. Architect T W Atkinson.” …. The site of the church is at the corner of Smedley Lane, Cheetham Hill, on land the greater portion of which was given by the Earl of Derby, and the remainder by Edward Loyd. The building will be in the gothic style of very chaste and beautiful design. The fund for its erection was raised by private subscription, several gentlemen in the neighbourhood contributing most liberally. [Manchester Guardian 9 July 1836 page 3]

ST LUKE’S CHURCH, CHEETHAM. The Trustees are ready to RECEIVE TENDERS for the execution of the JOINERS’ WORK, PLASTERING, and GLAZING of the church now being erected in Cheetham Hill. The plans, drawings and specifications may be seen on or after Tuesday next, by application to the architect, Mr T W Atkinson, Store Street. The time for the delivery of the tenders at the office of Mr James Barratt junior, Town Hall Buildings has been extended to Saturday 26th May inst.[Manchester Guardian 12 May 1838 page 1]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 9 July 1836 page 3 -foundation stone
Reference    Manchester Guardian 12 May 1838 page 1 - contracts
Reference    Manchester Guardian 2 October 1839 page 1 - consecration notice
Reference    Manchester Guardian 5 October 1839 page 1 - consecration notice
Reference    Church of England Magazine Volume VIII January-June 1840, page 69-72
Reference    Richard Wright Proctor: Literary Reminiscences and Gleanings. Manchester 1860 page 124-125]
Reference    Gentleman's Magazine, Vol XIV, July 1840 page 67]
Reference    Manchester Guardian 19 October 1889 page 9 – jubilee