St Luke Old Street

St Luke's Old Street
2006 photo
Location	Old Street, London
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Church of England (Deconsecrated)
History
Founded	1773
Dedication	St Luke
Architecture
Functional status	Preserved Used as concert venue by the LSO
Architect(s)	John James and Nicholas Hawksmoor
Years built	1727-1773
Closed	1964
Administration
Diocese	London

St Luke's is a historic Anglican church building in central London in the EC1 postcode district, it is located in the London Borough of Islington. It is now a music centre operated by the London Symphony Orchestra and known as LSO St Luke's. It is the home of the LSO's community and music education programme, LSO Discovery. The main body of the church seats up to 372 and is used by the LSO for rehearsals, and by a wide variety of musicians for performances and recording. Additional rooms in the crypt provide practice facilities for professional musicians, students and community groups.

The church is sited on Old Street, north of the City of London, and was built to relieve the church of St Giles-without-Cripplegate, Cripplegate, under the Commission for Building Fifty New Churches, an attempt to meet the religious needs of London's burgeoning 18th century population. It was completed and the corresponding parish of St Luke's created in 1733.

The church was designed by John James, though the obelisk spire, a most unusual feature for an Anglican church, the west tower and the flanking staircase wings were by Nicholas Hawksmoor. It stood in the historically marshy Moorfields area, and from an early date suffered from problems of subsidence.

Buried in the small churchyard are architect George Dance the Elder, at one time a member of the vestry, and in a chest tomb, father and son type founders William Caslon.The naturalist, Mark Catesby, is also buried in the churchyard.

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