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St Luke's History |
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St Luke's Church stands at the intersection of Coroners Lane, Pit Lane, Farnworth (formerly Church) Street and Marsh Hall Pad. It is generally believed that the first Church was founded on the site in around 1180. The chapel was built on high ground in Widnes at a place called "Ferneworthe" Originally dedicated to St Wilfrid it was known as 'St Wilfrids on the Hill'. It was not a parish in its own right but a chapelry of Prescot, however within its boundaries were the townships of Bold, Cronton, Cuerdley, Ditton, Penketh, Sankey and Widnes. Originally it was within the Mercian diocese of Lichfield but following the dissolution of the monasteries in 1541 the abbey at Chester was converted into a cathedral and Farnworth became part of the diocese of Chester. In 1859 the church was re-dedicated to St Luke.
There have been many changes to the church, internally and externally, over the centuries. The first extension was about 1280-1300 when the north aisle was added. Between 1360 and 1380 the south aisle was added and around this time the tower was also built. The Bold Chantry (or Chapel) was added in 1406 and in 1431 the east end was extended. In 1500 the Cuerdley chapel was added to the south of the church. At a restoration in 1855 galleries were built and the organ was moved into the gallery on the west wall. The last major internal restoration took place in 1894-1895 when the galleries were removed, the plaster was stripped from the walls and various other repairs and restorations were performed