| St Luke's Church, Kew | |
| Fullname: | Kew St. Luke |
| Denomination: | Church of England |
| Diocese: | Southwark |
| Parish: | Kew, St Luke[1] |
| Archdeaconry: | Wandsworth |
| Deanery: | Richmond & Barnes |
| Founded Date: | 1889 |
| Architect: | Goldie, Child and Goldie |
| Style: | Gothic Revival |
| Years Built: | 1889; redesigned 1983 |
| People: | Timothy Beaumont, Baron Beaumont of Whitley |
| Bishop: | Christopher Chessun |
| Archdeacon: | John Kiddle |
| Vicar: | Rev Dr Melanie Harrington |
| Warden: | Irene Stephens and Laura Coughtrie |
| Parishadmin: | Guinevere Duff and Irene Stephens |
| Reader: | Richard Austen Michael Tonkin |
| Location: | St Luke’s Church, The Avenue, Kew, Richmond TW9 2AJ |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
St Luke's Church, Kew, is a parish church in Kew, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is part of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion and, locally, is a member of Churches Together in Kew.[2] Together with St Philip and All Saints (the Barn Church), it is one of two parishes within the united benefice of Kew, St Philip & All Saints with St Luke. Its vicar, Rev Dr Melanie Harrington, took up the role in June 2021.[3] The church, built in the Gothic Revival style by architects Goldie, Child and Goldie,[4] is also host to the Kew Community Trust and acts as a community centre.[5]
The parish publishes a magazine, The Link.[6]
Kew's population increased considerably when the District line was extended to Richmond and a railway station was opened at Kew Gardens. To meet the needs of the extended parish, a temporary "iron church" (later Victoria & St John's Working Men's Club) was opened in Sandycombe Road. St Luke's Church, in The Avenue, was built to replace it, in 1889.
The large Victorian church, whose initial design plans included a spire that was never built,[7] now has a small tower (accommodating a lift).[7] This was added in 1983 when St Luke's was redesigned to create a smaller space for Christian worship in the former chancel area and to enable the former nave, and a second hall constructed in a loft conversion, to be used for community purposes also.[5] [8] [9]
Former Liberal Party chairman Timothy Beaumont, Baron Beaumont of Whitley, was priest in charge from 1986 to 1991.[10]
The community spaces in the building are currently occupied by the Kew Community Trust. The core activity of the Trust is the Avenue Club, a non-profit making social centre offering a range of recreational activities for the whole community.[5] [11]