St Luke, Grimethorpe
St Luke, Grimethorpe
St Luke the Evangelist is the parish church of Grimethorpe, South Yorkshire, on St Luke’s Road, in the Diocese of Leeds, a large Edwardian colliery church often called locally the red brick cathedral.
- Location
- Grimethorpe, Yorkshire
- Country
- England
- County
- Yorkshire
- City / town
- Grimethorpe
- Address
- St Luke's Road, Grimethorpe, Yorkshire, S72 7FN
- Postcode
- S72 7FN
- Built
- Completed 1904
- Consecrated
- 10 March 1904
- Architect
- Charles Hodgson Fowler
- Denomination
- Church of England
- Dedication
- Luke
- Diocese
- Leeds
- Parish
- Grimethorpe with Brierley
- Style
- Early English Gothic Revival
- Materials
- Brick and stone
- Opening hours
- Open for at least 30 minutes after all services, please contact us to visit at other times.
- Access
- Level access to the main areas. Accessible toilets nearby
Overview
The Church Heritage Record and the parish history agree that Grimethorpe became an ecclesiastical parish in 1901 after the opening of Grimethorpe Colliery in 1895. The first vicar, W. A. Holiday, raised funds with major gifts from F. J. Savile-Foljambe, who also gave the land, and from Carlton Main Colliery. The architect was Charles Hodgson Fowler of Durham; the contractors were Bowman and Sons of Stamford. The style is Early English; the fabric is brick and stone. The church was consecrated by the Archbishop of York on 10 March 1904.
The parish account describes Baltic oak fittings in the chancel, lofty stone arcades and seating for 500, with provision for a later south aisle and side chapel that were never built. The building is not listed. After the pit closed in 1993 the church declined; a demolition vote in 2001 was not carried out. Later work has included a new roof, doors and windows, a marble altar in the Lady Chapel, stained glass by Nathalie Liege, and a hanging crucifix painted by Cristian Paslaru.