Christ Church, Luton, Kent

Christ Church, Luton Church

Image Source: Rob Baker

The modernist design of Christ Church, in the densely populated Victorian-era suburb of Luton, Chatham, was created by architect Patrick O'Keefe and built in 1984. It is actually the third Christ Church building and was constructed to replace a Victorian church built in 1884.Architect E.R. (Edward Robert) Robson designed the previous church, which had a south west tower and spire added in 1926.In 1982 its foundations were suddenly discovered to be unstable and were imploding; resulting in the church being declared unsafe. It was immediately closed and demolition began soon afterwards.O'Keefe's modernist design attempted to counter these structural faults by building the new church both downwards into the ground and sidewards into the hill that rises sharply upwards immediately to the north of it.Many of the Victorian-era features have been lost, including several memorials and the font. Baptisms are carried out using a jade bowl.O'Keefe managed to incorporate some features into the new church, including stained-glass windows manufactured by Kempe which can be found in the sanctuary area.The lych-gate, containing two bronze plaques honouring the fallen in both World Wars, originally lay on the south side of the church, on the Luton Road.It was moved to the east end following the completion of the new structure. Some of the lower external walls of the Victorian church also remain in-situ.Robson's church of 1884 superseded a previous brick church of 1843 built to serve the growing population of the Medway maritime town of Chatham.The suburb of Luton was being built a short distance from the town centre, and the architectural partnership of Inwood & George - presumably William Inwood and a hitherto unknown partner named George - were commissioned to build the first church, a square pre-Ecclesiological "preaching box" design, with a small spirelet at the west end.This church lasted until 1884 when Robson's building was constructed across the road. It then became the church hall, before being condemned and then demolished.Nothing above-ground remains of the 1843 church although a dozen gravestones honouring people long-forgotten can still be seen in a small green area.In one of Kent's most deprived areas - if not *the* most - Christ Church maintains a major community presence. The functional nature of the building; including a spacious hall next to the main worship area and a ground floor that is used as a pre-school, means that the church can offer much more than Sunday worship.During the Covid-19 pandemic which forced the church to cease holding in-person services, the ground floor was used as one of the country's first testing centres.Unsurprisingly the style of worship at Christ Church Luton is "low church," but can be adjusted if the circumstances require.Behind the altar is a beautifully carved wooden triptych manufactured in Italy in the 1950s which is still used on rare occasions. Text by Rob Baker.

1851 Census Details

Seating Capacity: Not built

Morning Attendance: Not built

Afternoon Attendance: Not built

Evening Attendance: Not built

Architecture Details

None

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