Stunning new extension at Blackburn church opens to public

St Luke's & St Philip's Church, based on Bank Top, Blackburn, dates back to the 19th century and has been undergoing major repairs thanks to investment from the Church Commissioners’ Strategic Development Fund.

In 2021 £3.5m was allocated to the development of two new ‘resourcing churches’, St Luke’s and St John’s in Blackpool. The aim is to help inspire future generations of young people and help to revitalise the local neighbourhood.

As part of the investment St Luke’s was to undergo major changes, including the building of a new extension.

Rev Jason Gardner, who is Resourcing Church Leader at St Luke’s and wife Rachel, Youth Innovation Lead, have been instrumental in helping to reinvent this part of the town.

Rev Gardner said the new build had proved to be important for the local community.

He said: “It was an old church hall initially which was shut down during Covid. It was hosting a range of meetings for the local community.

“But then the Diocese of Blackburn realised it would be great place to revitalise and connect with young people in the area.

“Building work began in October 2021. So, we now have four break out rooms including a kitchen.

“We have meetings now on a Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday and various other events.”

The church is located at the corner of Bank Top and Stansfield, where streets had been demolished to make way for new build homes. The area has now seen a huge rejuvenation and its shining glory appears to be the old church.

The design and architecture for the new extension has already been shortlisted for two awards.

Rev Gardner said: “We put the original contract out to tender and Patrick Wilson were the eventual architects.

“The building is certainly something unique and is now up for a national architect award and another award for the brickwork.

“We have tried to keep it in theme with the church and the surrounding area.”

Work has been ongoing on the exterior and the interior of the church itself.

The church built around 1880 remains a local treasure for the borough with its breathtaking high ceiling and original stained-glass windows. A tower and steeple were later built in 1908.

Rev Gardner said: “A lot of the work has been external on the roof and we have a lot more to do. Like the high-level gutters

“There were long rooms at the back which have been removed to expand the space.

“A modern audio-visual system will be installed and we have already painted the whole place.

“This is a revitalisation project which has been welcomed by people who have been coming here for a long time.”

Among them is Joyce Hope who has been coming to the church for 60 years and even watched the initial extension to the church being built 48 years ago.

She was busy working in the kitchen area serving up snacks to the youth group members.

Joyce, 80, said: “I was born around here and I used to live on Redlam but I have lived around here all my life.

“I can actually remember when they built the previous church hall on this spot and it is amazing to be back in the same spot in this new building.

“It is very good as we have got more space now and we can have more meetings.”

To find out more about the work of St Luke’s Blackburn, see welcometostlukes.org