CHRONOLOGY OF ST LUKE’S
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1865 Foundation stone. Ceremony
performed by Samuel Wilberforce[1], Bishop of Oxford on 4 November.
Expenses of ceremony included printing special service sheets, the hire
of a tent and the hire & porterage of a harmonium (from exhibition at
Berkshire Record Office to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the
Bishops birth- see BRO records D/P181/5/3,7,8).
1866 ST LUKE’S consecrated by Samuel
Wilberforce, Bishop of Oxford. New church dedicated 1866. Church in
early English style - cost £3500. The architect was George Row Clarke of
London and the builder James Griffiths of Eldersfield, Worcs
(Illustrated London News, Supplement Nov 10 1866 p 461 No 1398 vol
XLIX).
Drawings by Clarke in Berkshire Record
Office (5/P/181/6/2) show that the font was originally to be west of the
entrance from the tower into the church. The base of the tower itself is
marked “children”. On the north east corner of the church was located
the organs with the vestry to the east of it.
1867 First memorial window inserted
on south side of chancel. In memory of Dr Bellis (M.Ad Dec 12 1894).
Taken out 1952 - now lost.
1869 Church enlarged (length of nave
doubled)
1870 Tower added. Bells: Calling
Bell- Mears & Stainbank (now the Church Bell Foundry), London
Tower added BELLS: Calling Bell
- Mears & Stainbank , Founders, London ?1870 Clock Bell - Gillett Bland
& Co, Croydon - London 1878.
1871 East window and north window of
chancel added. Latter taken out in 1952, though upper tracery, of
winged bull of St Luke, remains. East window by O’Connor (N. Pevsner
1966, “Berkshire”). A second two light O’Connor window inserted on the
north side of the nave: Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane and Christ
the Shepherd
1872 Chancel decorated. Reredos
gift of Rev G.H. Hodson, late incumbent of Cookham Dean (not sure when
put in - maybe already there in 1872).
1879 Clock added
1883 Model of St Luke’s made by W.E.
Harper. This model is still kept in the church. In 1883 St Luke’s
did not have a spire. The spire was added to the model, almost certainly
by Harper c. 1894, the original case being modified to take it. The
present case (of perspex and oak) was made by Richard Burdett, PCC
Treasurer, in 1991 after the arson attack, refixing the original brass
plaque. The plaque has the following inscription. Maidenhead Working
Men’s Club Exhibition 1883 W.E. HARPER : 1st Prize – Model of St Luke’s
Church
William Harper was parish clerk of St
Luke’s for forty years (see inscription on his grave stone on the west
side of the churchyard). The Working Men’s Club was based in what is now
St Luke’s community hall.
1885 Fresco tile painting, Jacobs
Ladder, on chancel arch dedicated at Advent in memory of mother of
Thomas J. Nunns. See brass plaque on side of arch. Fresco made by
W.B. Simpson and Sons of St Martins Lane, London; painter unknown,
though has been suggested might be W.J. Neatby. Rev. Thomas Jackson
Nunns was Headmaster of Cordwalles College (the forerunner of St
Piran’s) from 1873-90 (M.Ad Nov 27 and Dec 18 1992).
1891 Lectern given.
1893 Great West Window inserted and
west wall decorated with fresco. Both done by Clayton & Bell.
Inscription on a brass plaque under the window reads: To the Glory of
God and in affectionate remembrance of the late Francis Goolden F.R.C.S.
of the Wilderness, Maidenhead. Churchwarden of this parish from the
consecration of the church Aug: 23rd 1866, until his death Feb: 15th
1892. The above window has been inserted and this wall decorated by his
friends and relatives in the year of our Lord 1893.
Dr Goolden is said to have been a major
donor in the building of the church and his profession may be why it was
dedicated to St Luke who was a doctor.
The stained glass of this window is
arranged as follows:
- Top in the centre the
Lamb of God holding a pennant. Below the Lamb and on each side roundels
bear an angel with multicoloured wings holding a scroll with the words
“Holy, Holy, Holy” The rest of the window above and below the transom is
arranged into five lights.
- Above the transom from
the New Testament 1)Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin;2)the Last Supper
with the institution of the Eucharist, 3) the Crucifixion;4) the
Resurrection; 5)the Descent of the Holy Spirit.:
- Below the transom from
the Old Testament 1)Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden;2) the Falling of
the Manna;3)the Brazen Serpent; 4) Jonah delivered from the Whale;5) the
Giving of the Law. (SPLM April 1893, p3) Some of this window was put up
before Goolden’s death in 1892. By Nov 1883 the centre light had been
filled with painted glass by Messrs Clayton & Bell (The Brazen Serpent
and the Crucifixion), the cost of the light being £74 10s (The Gospeller
for S. Luke’s, Maidenhead, p 4). It seems the early glass may have been
too thick/dark for in 1892 “Mr Bell of the well known firm of Clayton &
Bell visited the church to inspect the west window and has promised to
send a design for carrying out the work which will include a lightening*
of the part already inserted and to complete the window following the
original plan” (SLPM June 1892 no 18 p6). The Goolden Memorial Fund
closed at £427. 10. 3 (SLPM Aug 1892 no 20 p6). Details of Goolden’s
funeral in SLPM March 1892 p3. * other early glass in the chancel may
also have been too thick, possibly why chancel re-ordered see 1952. The
fresco underneath the window was of the four evangelists (St Matthew, St
Mark, St Luke and St John)
Also inserted in south aisle, a smaller
window by Savell & Co. Window given by Mrs Cope in memory of her late
husband, Charles West Cope R.A., and designed from his own drawings -
Theme 1) Our Lord as the Good Shepherd 2) The Prodigal Son (SLPM April
1893 p 3 & 7). Note: Charles West Cope R.A.(1811-1890) was a noted
Victorian painter of historical, literary and biblical subjects. He took
part in the competition to decorate the Houses of
Parliament, winning in
1843 a prize for his cartoon of “Trial by Jury” Bryan’s Dictionary of
Painters and Engravers. The murals he created in the Peers’ Corridor of
the Houses of Parliament between 1856 and 1866 can still be seen by
those lucky enough to visit. Cope and his wife are buried in the large
cemetery off All Saint’s Avenue, Maidenhead.
1894 Spire put up. Of Bath
Stone, from designs by J.Oldrid Scott F.S.A.; built by Silver & Sons
Ltd; vane and double cross on stone pinnacles at each angle of tower
made by Barford & Norkett; both local firms (M.Ad Dec. 12, 1894). The
architect, Oldrid Scott, was a son of that famous Victorian restorer of
cathedrals, George Gilbert Scott and uncle to the architect of Liverpool
Cathedral, Giles Gilbert Scott. Note: Inscription on the springing of
the spire: “THIS SPIRE WAS BUILT 1894 - REV H. C. J. MEARA VICAR - J.
FULLER, T.G. WYATT CHURCHWARDENS - J.
OLDRID SCOTT
ARCHITECT - SILVER & SONS BUILDER”. Note: Spire required
because the roof of the tower was damaged (SLPM March 1894 p3). Both
W.W. Astor (William Waldorf Astor of Cliveden) and Mrs Robson subscribed
£5 to the tower fund (SLPM no 47 Nov 1894).
1896 Architect’s plans for
construction of the daughter church of St Peter’s. Approved and
money begins to be collected. Amount to be raised £1400 (SLPM Feb 1897
p3, March p3).
1901 New organ given by Mrs Cope -ӣ1100
for 1100 pipes” Provided by Wm Hill & Co of Islington (M.Ad, June 19
1901). See above 1893.
1902 Choir stalls given in memory of
Elizabeth Meara, sister of Rev. Meara. Original choir seats gift of
Rev W.B.Hole.
1910 Wrought iron and gold leaf
screen dedicated. Made by local firm of Edward Norkett (given by Rev
Meara - M.Ad March 16 1932). Note: Edward Norkett possibly a member of
the congregation. In SLPM Nov 1892 p 4, reference to a youth of that
name playing the violin in church.
1917 Font cover. Given by Miss
Spindle as a memorial to Eustace Spindler who was baptised in the font
and whose father has been a sidesman (SLPM Dec 1917).
1918 Death of Mrs Cope
(benefactress). SLPM Nov 1918.
1923 War memorial chapel dedicated.
Old vestry enlarged & remodelled: builder Messrs J.K. Cooper (local firm
- SLPM Aug 1922), architect Mr Cheadle (SLPM Aug 1923); Lord Desborough*
gave 5 guineas and lady Desborough 2 guineas (SLPM March 1923). Oak
Altar presented by Sawyer family (SLPM Aug 1923). Carved oak altar rails
given by Mrs Bird in memory of her father Rev W.R. Rogers, Vicar of
Cookham at the time St Luke’s parish was formed (SLPM Nov 1923).
*William Henry Grenfell of Taplow Court.
1927 West screen ordered. SLPM
Sept 1927.
1928 Money raised for memorial to
churchwardens Lemon and Wyatt. SLPM March 1928; used to obtain a
south screen for the chapel.
1930 War Memorial Chapel completed.
Cost of £2500 built, furnished and decorated the chapel. The third
screen and gates dedicated by Bishop Shaw on Sunday 24th August 1930,
given by the sons in memory of Thomas Charles Fry, 1846-1930, Dean of
Lincoln, and Julia Isabella, his wife, 1846-1928. J.O. Cheadle of New
Square, Lincolns Inn designed the chapel and practically everything in
it. He designed also the screens worked by Messrs Bowman & Sons of
Stamford; the chairs made by Messrs Wake & Dean of Yatton, Somerset, and
the wrought iron gates produced by the Widney Manufacturing Company,
Maidenhead (SLPM Sept 1930). Sanctuary lamp given by Mr Oakley
(Churchwarden when the memorial chapel and new vestry were completed) in
memory of his son killed in the Great War.
1932 New vestry built on south east
corner dedicated Sunday Feb 21st 1932. As memorial to the late Basil
Fry, brother of Canon Fry. At same time a new rotary duplex engine
installed to provide wind for the organ, replacing one which was worn
out. Vestry, like chapel, designed by J.O. Cheadle of Lincons Inn. It is
of Chilmark Stone with Bath Stone plinth and coigns to match the church.
Builders Messrs J K Cooper & sons, Maidenhead. Figure of St Luke, work
of Esmond Burton of Holborn who also made the bronze tablet, fixed to
wall of tower inside vestry (SLPM March 1932). On Bronze Tablet on
Tower: In memoriam Basil Homfray Fry, natus XVI, Kal. Apr. A.D.
MDCCCLXXXIV; obiit IX Kal Apr. MCMXXXI,; schol. Berkhamstediensis
MDCCCXCIV-MCMIII; artium magister ex Aede Christi Oxoniensi; Consvl;
miles; poeta; philosophus; scientiae evitor; exemplar amicitiae; amicis
deflendus (In translation, recording the dates of birth and death; his
schooling at Berkhamsted; being an M.A. of Christ’s College, Oxford; a
Consul; a Soldier, Poet and Philosopher; a Student of Science; an
example to all around him; deplored by all his friends) (M.Ad Wed Feb
24th 1932).
1952 Chancel altar reordered. By
Rev Morcom-Harness in memory of Canon Fry; reredos taken down, Victorian
wall frescoes white-washed, stained glass side windows taken out; that
on the south side, the first memorial window of 1867, replaced with
plain glass.
1953 Choir seats moved into east end
of nave. Reasons: 1) acoustic 2) aesthetic 3) psychological (SLPM
April 1953 p6). Note: Present large brass candlesticks, on either side
of chancel altar, consist in the main of ornate gas brackets which have
been modified to take candles. Presumably this was done when the church
switched from gas to electric
lighting.
1966 Centenary of St Luke’s
Celebrated. M.Ad Oct 21, 22 & 28 1966.
1977 Nave altar established as
Jubilee project.
1990 Organ refurbished with a new
wind chest.
1991 Arson attack. Vestry gutted
and many records lost; interior of church cleaned except the west
window; smashed window on north side repaired by Chapel Studios.
See trail guide for details. Cleaning necessitated by fire damage
reveals, in its full glory, the fresco tile painting, Jacob’s Ladder, on
the chancel arch (M.Ad Nov 27 1992).
1993 Within the outer shell of the
vestry, a new parish centre is built
1996 Clock face renovated.
2000 New lighting installed.
Church spire lit to celebrate Millennium. Spire continues to be lit to
date, sponsored by congregation as a thanks offering.
2002 Memorial chapel reordered and
dedicated on Sunday 16th June. Altar rails reused as part of
screen
to create a vestry area in the chapel (see above 1923). A spectacular
new wall hanging is hung on the east wall in colours designed to
complement and reflect the stained glass window above. Hanging made by
the ladies recorded on the back of the quilt.
2004 West window restored :
stained glass restored by Chapel Studios, stonework by A.F Jones
2005 Clock face repaired
Abbreviations
SLPM: St Luke’s Parish Magazine M.Ad:
Maidenhead Advertiser
Ann Darracott June 1998; revised
July 2007
________________________________________
[1] *Third son of William Wilberforce,
the philanthropist and advocate of the abolition of the slave trade.
Wilberforce born 7 Sept 1805 was Bishop of Oxford from 1845-1869. His
birth was commemorated on 7 Sept 2005 at a service in The Minster Church
of St Mary the Virgin in Reading to which representatives of the
churches he reopened or consecrated were invited.
