About St. Luke's
Wheelchair Ramps - Hearing Aid Induction Loop - Sound System (PA)
Large Print Service Booklets - Children's Play Area - Fairtrade Store
In tribute to our patron saint, families with children of any age
are made especially welcome to all our acts of worship
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St. Luke’s Church is on Evesham Road, Headless Cross, Redditch, Worcestershire. For directions please click here. There is a small amount of off-road parking on the forefront of the Church, on-road parking close by, a free public car park within a few hundred yards and the local bus stop is nearby.
St. Luke's church is a warm and welcoming church community in the heart of our vibrant neighbourhood of Headless Cross & Southcrest. Our most treasured asset which binds us together as Christians, is our trust in Jesus Christ as Son of God, Saviour and friend. As a church fellowship we have embarked on a journey of discovery, to explore our relationship with Jesus.
We believe that Jesus calls us to express our faith in practical ways in our everyday lives, in caring for other people and the world, in faithful prayer and regular worship. In these ways we attempt to make a humble offering of all aspects of our lives, that we may modestly serve God’s purposes, enrich our lives and transform our community. We are a Fairtrade Church. Click here to visit our Fairtrade page.
We regularly hold concerts and other events both in the Church and the Memorial Hall. We have held concerts by The Kremlinaires with their Soviet Swing & Bolshevik Boogie, Brendon Power & Frank Kilkelly. Luke , Daniels and band performing A Circle of Stone, the lost music of the Gaels, Goldstone & Clemmow - A golden treasurey of piano duets, Vital Spark Gallery Choir - Traditional Sacred Music, the Alcester Male Voice Choir with special guests Alice Heming & Frederic Miller. From Scotland we had Moishe's Bagel with their jazz-influenced Klezmer and Balkan music and at the end of November we were entertained by the various groups from SLEAYP (St. Luke's Expressive Arts Youth Project) at their 'Not Quite A Christmas Concert' with everything from Samba & African drumming to brass bands and keyboards with a guest spot by our very own choir singing a traditional African song.
St. Luke's Church has provided a place of prayer and worship in this community for approximately 150 years. This is why many generations of families have marked their most meaningful celebrations and times of sadness within the sacred and peaceful space it offers. It is a truly beautiful church, with a warm congregation who welcome all who cross St. Luke's threshold. St. Luke's is part of the 'Christ the King' benefice. St. Luke's uses the NRSV Bible & Common Worship and has a Local Ministry Team
St. Luke's Church also has close links with St. Luke's Church of England First School and Walkwood Church of England Middle School.
The Church Building
St. Luke’s Church has a bellcote at the west end of the aisled nave, and inside there is a very beautiful Romanesque-style chancel and apse. From the Evesham Road the view of the west front of the building is impressive with a Norman style portal and unusual rose window.
The church was originally built in 1843, but was enlarged and mostly rebuilt by Frederick Preedy around 1867. The south and west parts were retained and a north aisle was added with organ chamber. Some of the window tracery dates back to 1843. On the east side Preedy added the apsidal chancel which has a stone vault inside.
Inside you can see the paintings by Preedy in the chancel with signs of the zodiac (most unusual for a Christian church!) above the large figures of a censing angel, St. Augustine, St. Mary, St. Peter, St. John, St. Paul and St. John Chrysostom (Archbishop of Constantinople). The painted reredos is also by Preedy and shows the Entombment of Christ.
Much of the roof is also painted. The furnishing are 19th and 20th century and the stained glass was installed by Preedy between 1870 and 1875, though the west window had been designed in about 1860.
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St. Luke’s History by Jim Sullivan
When Frederick Lacon was appointed rector of Headless Cross in 1850, the building was a small “Chapel-of Ease” seating about 150 people. This building had pews on the ground floor for upper class parishioners and, at the back of the chapel, there was a balcony which was reached by climbing an outside staircase where the working class people had to stand for services. By the 1860’s, the parish numbered about 2,000 and the chapel was far too small. The Reverent Lacon set about raising the £2,000 plus that was required to build a new larger church. This he did by writing “begging” letters to all and sundry, bishops, M.P.s etc. He even wrote to the then Archbishop of Canterbury however, we do not think that was fruitful. The largest contribution of £200 came from the Windsor family who occupied Hewell Grange. The present church was built in 1867. Mr Preedy of London was the architect who designed many of the churches in the area. The porch entrance and part of the south wall are from the original chapel as is the pulpit and the font. Part of the original altar rail can still be seen at the front of the chancel and the wooden floor blocks on the south half of the church indicate the original area (as distinct from the rest of the floor which is boards).
Unless otherwise specified, the pictures on the website have been taken by John James, a local, award-winning professional photographer, to whom we are indebted. | |||||||||||||||||
