This Church was consecrated by the Bishop of London on St. Luke’s Day October 18th 1824 and was built because the original Parish Church (now known as Chelsea Old Church) was regarded as too small for the increasing population.
The decision to build it was made at a public meeting in 1818 and the foundation stone was laid on October 12th 1820. The Rector at the time was the brother of the Duke of Wellington, the Hon.& Revd.Gerald Valerian Wellesley DD. St. Luke’s was regarded as being one of the first Neo-Gothic churches to be built in London: the nave, 60ft in height, is the tallest of any Parish Church in London and the tower reaches a height of 142 feet.
Architect
The Architect was James Savage, one of the foremost authorities on medieval architecture of his time and the church has a grandeur of conception and a great attention to detail. It is built of Bath stone and the resemblance to Kings College Chapel in Cambridge is quite striking. On the exterior the flying buttresses and the pinnacles along the parapets give an added feeling of height.
The interior was laid out, although in a building of Gothic style, in the traditional 18th century way of a preaching house, with enormous pulpit and pews everywhere and a diminutive altar. This arrangement was altered in the late 19th century to substantially what it looks like today. Indeed the present late 19th century rearrangement actually fits the length of the building better than the original “preaching house” concept.
The East Window was put in in 1959 to replace an older one destroyed during the Second World War. It was designed by Hugh Easton and is in honour of The Trinity and The Church, and features many emblems of the saints. A plan is in the Church Guide Book. The total area of the window is over 500 square feet.
The Coat of Arms
Above the west door the arms are of George IV and the arms of the Kingdom of Hanover are superimposed on the British royal arms.
The Organ
This fine instrument was built by John Compton in 1932, and incorporates some of the original 1824 organ. The organ of St. Luke’s served as the prototype for the organs at Broadcasting House and Downside Abbey.
The Reredos Painting behind the altar
This painting, which was placed in the church soon after it was built, depicts the deposition of Christ from the cross, and is by James Northcote (1746-1831) who was well known as a portrait painter.
The Sculptures either side of the high altar.
The two large sculptures in the niches are representative of Adam and Eve at the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. The two figures bow their heads in shame for their disobedience to God. The figure of Adam is carved from Imperial Porphyry and Eve from Hammamat Brecchia. These modern sculptures were installed in 1997, and are the work of Stephen Cox who also has work in the Tate Gallery.
The Bells
There is a ring of ten bells in the tower, which were cast at Whitechapel when the church was built. They are rung regularly.
The PFFA Chapel
Along the south side of the church you will find the PFFA Chapel, this Chapel which is used daily for prayer, is a memorial chapel to the Punjab Frontier Force, which was based in India from1847 to 1947.
Memorials
There are many memorials to local people around the church and of particular note are those to the Cadogan family who remain Patrons of this parish. On the east wall of the north gallery, the memorial to Lt. Col Henry Cadogan who was killed in 1813 in the Battle of Vittoria, is by Sir Francis Chantrey. To the left of the altar there is the memorial to Luke Thomas Flood, who died in 1860, having carried out many charitable works in Chelsea. His name is perpetuated in Flood Street.
The Crypt
St. Luke’s is built on a labyrinth of crypts in order to provide better foundations on the sandy soil. The crypt is now used as a series of offices.
The Churchyard
The large burial ground which surrounded the church was converted into a public garden in 1881, the gravestones being placed to form a boundary wall.
Notable people connected with St. Luke’s
Charles Dickens was married in this church to Catherine Hogarth in 1836: the wedding took place two days after the publication of the first part of Pickwick Papers.
John Goss who wrote the hymn “Praise my soul the King of Heaven” was organist here as was John Ireland.
Charles Kingsley who wrote The Water Babies, was associated with this parish, of which his father was Rector from 1836-1860.
Rectors.
There have been ten since the first Rector, the Hon. G. V. Wellesley was appointed in 1805 and built the church during his incumbency which lasted until 1832.
