Built between 1896-97 on land provided by the owners of Maidstone's main brewery (Mrs Whatman and the Fremlin Brothers); St. Luke's seems to have been architect William Howard Seth-Smith's only complete Anglican commission. The permanent church superseded a large Mission Church, built in 1886, at a cost of £1,200. This building remains today, located directly across the road, but for well over a century has been used as commercial premises. Seth-Smith's church was built using local ragstone in "Free Style Gothic" - a popular style in the latter years of the 19th century but more often found in the design of non-conformist churches than in the Church of England. Consequently it has a very unique design for a Victorian era Anglican church. The overall cost was £4,000.
The windows are a mixture of Decorated and Perpendicular; but devoid of any stained-glass. Soft grisaille glass has been used throughout the church which lets in a lot of natural light. One unique feature is its small octagonal north turret with its spirelet crowned with a dove of peace facing due east. The church itself has a non-traditional north-east alignment.
The roof also features a small lead cupola towards the west end. The cruciform interior with small transepts to the north and south also possesses some unique features: rows of chunky paired columns separating the nave from the aisles; with stone carvings adorning arches featuring various names of Christ: Alpha, Omega, Emmanuel and Jesus can be found in various parts of the church. The chancel features a large wooden panelled reredos behind the altar. This was carved by Jones Willis. The organ housing was designed by architect Seth-Smith. The pulpit (1911) and war memorial board (1920) were also designed by Seth-Smith in conjunction with his understudy W.E. Monro. On the south wall of the chancel is a large mural painting by Ivor Hitchens. Designed in 14th century Italianate style it depicts the dove of peace (symbolising the Holy Spirit) in the Garden of Eden. This was provided to St. Luke's in 1918. The chancel ceiling is patterned with the exact position of the stars as they were on Armistice Day marking the end of the First World War on the 11th November 1918. St. Luke's manages to combine an eclectic mix of architectural ideas and details; and has been designated a Grade II listing. In 1971-72 the west baptistry was demolished to make way for an entrance foyer. The interior was controversially modernised in the mid-1990s with the removal of the wooden benches. Today it is well-attended and for the past three decades has maintained a charismatic tradition in the Church of England.
Text by Rob Baker
