Liverpool’s St Luke’s – better known as the Bombed Out Church – has fully reopened to the public once more.
This comes after an announcement that the Grade II listed building has been removed from its Heritage at Risk register after 18 years.
A celebration was held on Thursday, with performances led by the Liverpool’s Pagoda Youth Orchestra Flower Drummers, with Mayor Joe Anderson leading the applause.
A new dynamic installation has been introduced at the iconic landmark to officially mark the achievement. The 3-G architectural lighting system means the church can transform to any colour at the touch of a button, from anywhere in the world.
Designed and fitted by MJ Quinn, who used specialist electrical engineers and stonemasons, the visual effect-changing scheme completes the £500,000 restoration of the 185-year-old church. It promises to “provide static colours, flame flicker effects or rolling colour change”.
YouTube: Anisah Arif
The 19th Century Church of St Luke’s was left roofless and devastated after it went up in flames caused by an incendiary device in the May 1941 Blitz in the Second World War. It now serves as a war memorial as well as a venue for a wide variety of public events.
Ambrose Reynolds, the Director of Bombed Out Church Ltd, told JMU Journalism: “We are planning to include a classroom where schoolchildren can learn about war and what happened to Liverpool during the Blitz. We’re also going to include a mock bomb shelter, so it’s a small museum on three levels, but will be dedicated only to the Blitz.”
Mayor Anderson said: “It’s been a personal goal of mine that we restore St Luke’s to its rightful place as one of the city’s crown jewels and I’m delighted that, as of today, it is no longer on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register.
“This is a landmark moment that heralds an exciting new chapter in its illustrious history. This amazing new lighting scheme gives St Luke’s a whole new dimension to be part of citywide celebrations.”
Bombed Out Church Ltd is now applying for funding for improvements within the space, which could include a glazed canopy in the chancel, and reinstating the balcony in the nave.
YouTube: Place North West