Saint Luke's Church, Liverpool
Saint Luke's Church, affectionately known by locals as the "Bombed-Out Church," is a striking and poignant landmark in Liverpool. Located at the corner of Berry Street and Leece Street, atop Bold Street, the church stands as a symbol of resilience and memory.
Designed by the father-and-son team of John Foster Sr. and John Foster Jr., surveyors for the Corporation of Liverpool, the church was constructed between 1811 and 1832. Originally envisioned as an Anglican parish church, it also served ceremonial purposes and hosted concerts. The site was donated in 1791 by Edward Smith-Stanley, the 12th Earl of Derby, with the stipulation that it must always remain a place of worship.
The church's construction progressed slowly, with the foundation stone laid in 1811. Subsequent design adjustments included the addition of a chancel in 1822, reflecting its dual purpose as a civic and musical venue. It was fondly referred to as "the doctor's church" due to its proximity to Rodney Street, a hub for Liverpool's medical professionals.
Tragedy struck during the Liverpool Blitz of May 1941, when incendiary bombs gutted the building, leaving it a roofless shell. Despite this devastation, the church has been preserved in its ruined state as a memorial to those who lost their lives during the war. Recognized for its architectural and historical significance, it was designated a Grade II* listed building in 1952.
Constructed in ashlar sandstone in the Perpendicular Gothic style, the church features a five-bay nave, a four-bay chancel with an apsidal end, and a west tower. The tower is notable for its battlemented parapet, polygonal buttresses, and clock face. Remarkably, it houses the world's first cast iron bell frame, created in 1828 by George Gilliband.
Today, Saint Luke's continues to serve Liverpool as a venue for exhibitions and events, standing as both a historical treasure and a somber reminder of the city's wartime endurance.
Designed by the father-and-son team of John Foster Sr. and John Foster Jr., surveyors for the Corporation of Liverpool, the church was constructed between 1811 and 1832. Originally envisioned as an Anglican parish church, it also served ceremonial purposes and hosted concerts. The site was donated in 1791 by Edward Smith-Stanley, the 12th Earl of Derby, with the stipulation that it must always remain a place of worship.
The church's construction progressed slowly, with the foundation stone laid in 1811. Subsequent design adjustments included the addition of a chancel in 1822, reflecting its dual purpose as a civic and musical venue. It was fondly referred to as "the doctor's church" due to its proximity to Rodney Street, a hub for Liverpool's medical professionals.
Tragedy struck during the Liverpool Blitz of May 1941, when incendiary bombs gutted the building, leaving it a roofless shell. Despite this devastation, the church has been preserved in its ruined state as a memorial to those who lost their lives during the war. Recognized for its architectural and historical significance, it was designated a Grade II* listed building in 1952.
Constructed in ashlar sandstone in the Perpendicular Gothic style, the church features a five-bay nave, a four-bay chancel with an apsidal end, and a west tower. The tower is notable for its battlemented parapet, polygonal buttresses, and clock face. Remarkably, it houses the world's first cast iron bell frame, created in 1828 by George Gilliband.
Today, Saint Luke's continues to serve Liverpool as a venue for exhibitions and events, standing as both a historical treasure and a somber reminder of the city's wartime endurance.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Liverpool. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Saint Luke's Church on Map
Sight Name: Saint Luke's Church
Sight Location: Liverpool, England (See walking tours in Liverpool)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Liverpool, England (See walking tours in Liverpool)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in Liverpool, England
Create Your Own Walk in Liverpool
Creating your own self-guided walk in Liverpool is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Beatles Tour in Liverpool, Part I
The hometown of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Star, Liverpool is called 鈥淭he Beatles Capital鈥� for a reason. The city saw the dawn of the Fabulous Four's musical career and is brimming with Beatlemania: Beatles-themed bars, restaurants, hotels, and other places associated with the iconic band.
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Beatles Tour in Liverpool, Part II
Liverpool is permeated with The Beatles who seem to be everywhere! There are so many places associated with the band in the city: childhood homes, schools, bars... Some of them are rather unassuming, at a glance, and thus can be easily overlooked.
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
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Beatles Tour in Liverpool, Part III
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.3 Km or 3.3 Miles
One such place is Strawberry Field, immortalized in their song "Strawberry Fields Forever." It was a Salvation Army children's home, and although the original building no... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
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Beatles Pub Crawl
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
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Liverpool Historical Sites Walking Tour
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles