St Luke's Church, Formby

St Luke's Church is in St Luke's Church Road, Formby, Sefton, Merseyside, England, and is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Liverpool. The original chapel on the site was destroyed by a sandstorm in 1739. It was replaced by the present church in 1854, and this was extended in 1897. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.HistoryLittle is known of the early history of the church, but the presence of a 12th-century font in the church is evidence that it stands on an ancient site. This church was destroyed in a sandstorm in 1739. The idea for rebuilding a church on the site came in the 1840s from Rev Miles Formby, former vicar of St Thomas, Melling. He died in 1849, but the building of the church was continued by his older brother Dr Richard Formby, who owned and donated the land. The money for building the church was given by Miles' widow and his sister, Mary. The church was dedicated to Saint Luke, the patron saint of doctors. It was designed by the Liverpool architect William Culshaw. At this time only the nave and porch were built, and these were consecrated by the Rt Revd John Graham, bishop of Chester, on 14 December 1854. The chancel and transepts were added in 1897, and paid for by Caroline, daughter of Dr Richard Formby.