History of LSO St Luke's
From derelict church to unique creative music hub
In the mid-1990s, the London Symphony Orchestra began searching for a new space to house our expanding education and community programme. An ideal venue was found in St Luke’s, a then derelict shell of an 18th-century church, just a short walk from our Barbican home.
The Church of St Luke’s
The Fifty New Churches Act of 1711 was intended to provide new churches in and around the suburbs of the cities of London and Westminster. St Luke’s was one of just 12 that were ultimately built under the act. It was commissioned in 1727, and designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor and John James, who were given a strict budget of £10,000.
The new church was consecrated and opened in 1733. But it had been built on marshy ground, and almost as soon as it was first completed, St Luke’s suffered settlement problems. A dry summer in 1959 caused calamitous subsidence, leaving some columns hanging from the roof they should have been supporting. The building was declared unsafe, the roof removed (but the iconic Hawksmoor spire left in place), and the church abandoned.
Restorations with UBS
The LSO and UBS began the restoration project in 1996, when the building had no roof, a collapsing crypt and plants growing through the walls. At the time the English Heritage considered it one of England’s most important buildings at risk.
The restoration designs preserved many of the building’s heritage features – the original walks and window alcoves remain, the church clock was renovated and the flaming golden dragon restored to its rightful place at the top of the spire. All this is combined with a contemporary interior that supports cutting-edge music making and education activities, and the rehearsal and recording needs of a 21st-century orchestra.
Through the Centuries
1711
A commission to build 50 new churches is passed through parliament. Of these 50, only 11 will be built.
1727
Building work begins on St Luke’s to a design by Nicholas Hawksmoor and John James.
1733
The church of St Luke’s is consecrated and soon the parish grows to capacity.
1734
The first of many restorations is carried out, less than a year after the church opened.
1844
Henry Smart becomes organist at St Luke’s. He holds the position until 1865, leaving a lasting legacy to the English hymnal and English organ music.
1869
The first major restorations take place due to subsistence, an issue that will eventually leave the church derelict.
1950s
Basil Ramsey, editor of various musical publications including The Musical Times and Choir and Organ, becomes organist at St Luke’s. He fosters a relationship with the BBC, inviting them to record concerts of organ music. The relationship with the BBC would be re-established when the site re-opened as LSO St Luke’s.
1959
After an incredibly dry summer, the subsistence issues cause the ground to sink, leaving pillars hanging from rather than supporting the ceiling. This, combined with a declining inner-city population, causes St Luke’s to close.
The font and organ case are moved to St Giles-without-Cripplegate, and the reredos (large altarpiece) and altar rails are moved to St Andrews Holborn. The roof is removed for safety.
1964
The Crypt is bricked up and the building is left derelict for almost 30 years.
1993
With a grant from the English Heritage, the ruin of St Luke’s is partially stabilised. The LSO announce they are looking for a building to house their education programme, but St Luke’s is not yet considered an option.
1996
St Luke’s is identified as the perfect place to house LSO Discovery, thanks to its proximity to the Barbican.
2000
After stabilising the existing structure, work begins on transforming the dilapidated shell of St Luke’s into a versatile space for music-making.
The Oxford Archaeological Unit begin the exhumation of over 1000 burials in the crypt and churchyard.
2002
With the walls stabilised and the basement structure completed, St Luke’s is nearly ready to open.
2003
Work is complete. LSO St Luke’s opens to the public in January 2003.
2020
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Orchestra is able to produce music in a safe, socially-distanced space at LSO St Luke’s, sharing streamed concerts across the world in challenging times.
