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A few years ago I was given a beautiful christening spoon (Fig.2) made up of the curved part of a scallop shell (Pecten maximus L.) and a silver engraved cross for the handle; the inscription reading “St.Luke’s Liverpool, 1883”. It came in a royal blue satin lined case with the name of the company, Pratt and Sons, Church furnishers, 24 Tavistock St., Strand, printed on it in gold. I have since written to Pratt and sons but they are no longer trading. On the other hand St.Luke’s church situated at Bold Place, Berry Street is still standing as a reminder and symbol of the thousands who died on Merseyside during the Second World War. St. Luke’s church was designed by Liverpool architect John Foster in 1802. It was built on land given to the town by Lord Derby in 1791 with one condition that there would be no burials in the churchyard. The foundation stone was laid on April 9th.1811 and it was officially opened on St.George’s day 1829 but consecrated on January 12th. 1831. It is the only work of John Foster to remain standing after the bombing of the city on the 4th May 1941. The bells of St.Lukes were cast in Downham, Norfolk in 1818 and rung for the first time by the St.Nicholas bell-ringers at the church on Sunday June 26th 1927 and broadcast by the BBC from 8 p.m. being heard for 10 minutes by the millions of people listening. The church was known in its time as the ‘Doctor’s’ church because of the medical services held in it and at another time ‘Madden’s’ church after the archdeacon Madden a witty Irish vicar from 1889 to 1913. But this all came to an end in 1941 when the Germans bombed the city and which was portrayed so well by artist Peter Shepheard (1913-2002).(Fig.3) The church, only a shell now, is owned and maintained by Liverpool City; and the gardens surrounding it, without grave stones, laid out and kept by the Corporation. It stands as a gaunt reminder of the blitz holocaust which destroyed so much of the city. I would like to thank the Revd.Canon Neville Black, Team Rector of ‘The parish of St.Luke-in-the-City’ for all the time and information that he has given and passed onto me about the church and Jeff Walden, Archives Researcher for the BBC who let me know about the bells. |
Figure 1 St. Lukes, Liverpool
Figure 2 Christening spoon
Figure 3 Peter Shepheard painting
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