Press Release from St Luke's Stanmore and the Diocese of Winchester

March 2024: Future Plans for St. Luke's Church

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St Luke’s is pleased to address recent interest regarding the future of St. Luke’s Church. We appreciate the community's engagement and wish to provide clarity on our ongoing discussions and plans.

 

As a church deeply rooted in our community, we are actively exploring various possibilities for the future of St. Luke’s. These discussions involve a diverse range of stakeholders and perspectives, and we are committed to ensuring that all voices are heard and considered. In the future, we plan to engage more widely with the local community to gather input and feedback.

 

It is important to emphasise that St Luke’s maintains a stance of impartiality. We do not align ourselves with any political affiliations, and our focus remains steadfast on serving the needs of our community with compassion and integrity.

 

We encourage all interested parties to seek information directly from us. Transparent and open communication is fundamental to our approach, and we welcome constructive dialogue that fosters understanding and collaboration.

 

St Luke’s remains dedicated to nurturing a vibrant community at St. Luke’s.

 

Sincerely,

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Revd Marianne Foster, Brian Sadler (church warden) and Tom Foster (church warden)

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​PressRelease from St Luke's Stanmore and the Diocese of Winchester

September 2022

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For a number of years, it has been apparent that St Luke’s Church, on Mildmay Street in Stanmore, is suffering from a number of major building defects. A report commissioned by the Diocese of Winchester in May this year, confirmed that addressing these repairs would incur substantial costs, and would be a significant on-going burden to the congregation for many years to come. After much discussion, the Parochial Church Council made the courageous decision to seek closure and demolition of the church in order to build a new, fit-for-purpose replacement.  The Church Commissioners have now announced their decision to approve the closure and demolition of the church. 

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Bishop Debbie, Acting Bishop of Winchester, says, “As we seek to serve the parish of Stanmore in the decades to come, we want people to know that they can get to know Jesus in their new church building.  We look forward to the new church continuing to be the beacon of hope that St Luke’s has been, continuing to bring the presence of Christ to one of the most diverse communities in Winchester.”

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St Luke’s church holds many significant memories for the people of Stanmore stretching back three generations.  The churchwardens would like to welcome all who have connections from the past with St Luke’s to come and share their memories with the current worshipping community.  

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Curate, Marianne Foster, says, “The current St Luke’s building is a special place for many people. As we look ahead to the future and plan for a new St Luke’s, I am hopeful that it will be a loving and welcoming building where people will discover joy and connection."

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The Parochial Church Council will be working with the Diocese of Winchester and local stakeholders and the planning authorities of Winchester City Council to determine how the site can be developed and a new church built. The building remains structurally safe to use in the immediate future, and a date of closure will be announced in due course.  The usual pattern of Services will continue during the building project (please check website for updates as the project progresses). 

 

To contact the parish, please email stlukestanmore@outlook.com, or visit their website at www.stlukeswinchester.co.uk.

To contact the Diocese of Winchester, please email nigel.wright@winchester.anglican.org.