About St Luke's church

After the cessation of hostilities at the end of the 1939-1945 World War II and the return to this country of our service men and women, it was necessary to erect many new houses. These took the form of both private and public housing in Beccles and also of course in other towns and villages throughout the United Kingdom. Beccles has a problem that the river, marshes and neighbouring Worlingham restrict expansion to the South and South West of the town. The result of this was that the main centre of population moved away from the old town area.

Our Parish church of St. Michael’s was now some distance from a large part of the population and the more elderly parishioners were finding it more difficult to attend services. It must be remembered that up to the mid-1970s not many families had motorised transport, and either walking, bicycling or public transport was the only means of attending services at St. Michael’s.

It was decided to build a church and church hall

A new church for Rigbourne Hill

When Rigbourne Hill Estate was planned, land was set aside for a church and public house. In the spring of 1962 the diocese decided that time was right to proceed with the building of a church.

In the spring of 1963 a committee was formed to arrange a Public Meeting. This was under Chairmanship of The Rev. Canon W. R. F. Hares, Rector of Beccles, and consisted of Col. Arthur Moody, Mrs. Ruth Buchanan and Mr. James F. Lumsden. Each house in the area had a leaflet delivered by hand (not shoved thro’ the letter box). In July 1963 Canon Hares resigned the living and went to Guernsey and this project was accordingly put on hold to await our new Rector. On 16th December 1963 The Reverend Sutton’s Institution and Induction as Rector of Beccles took place in St. Michael’s Church. In May 1964 the delayed public meeting was held in the Beccles County Modern School. During the public meeting a committee was formed to oversee the project.

The “New Church Hall Committee”

The first meeting of the New Church Hall Committee was held at the Rectory on Friday 5th June 1964. The Rector opened the meeting with prayers.

Members present were Mr. A. Gibb, Mr. E. Bluck, Mr. C. Barber, Mr. G. Odam, Mr. A. Boggis, Mr. O. Platt, Mr. H. King, Col. Moody, Rev. M. Sutton, Mrs. E. Sarbutt, Mrs. M. Crisp, Mrs. D. Page, Mrs. S. Thurston and Mrs. E. Crisp.

Mrs. E. Crisp was appointed secretary and Mr. C. Barber was appointed as the Box Treasurer. There were 127 collection boxes out at the time and it was suggested that they be opened every three months. It was hoped that a member of the Church Council will agree to be Treasurer

The Rector said that the hall was to be used for religious and other purposes. The sanctuary could be divided off by means of sliding doors for other meetings. If there was to be a Communal Centre there would be a need for a Leader. The Rector said he was negotiating for a married curate whom he hoped would live on the Rigbourne Hill Estate.

Representations had been made to the Architects as to the uses of the Hall. Mrs. Thurston suggested badminton which needs height and table tennis for teenagers. Mr. Boggis put forward the possibility of the Hall being used for a Welfare Clinic as so many young mothers lived in this part of town. Mr Odam said that the Scouts, Guides and Brownies would want to use the Hall. The rector said the Hall needed at least to be divided into 2 sections, possibly 3, for Sunday school purposes, with a possibility of a sound-proof room for the under five’s. Mr. Boggis said that sliding doors or partitions were costly but agreed with Col. Moody’s suggestion that temporary partitions were not so expensive. Cooking facilities would be needed also toilets and cloakrooms and the Hall would be heated by electric radiators.

Once the plans came from the Architects, they had to be approved by the Church commissioners and then the Planning Committee. Then work could commence.

Activities to be taken in the mean time :- The Rector hoped that it would be possible to hold Home Meetings to discuss specifically Christian subjects. Carol services and Open Air Meetings were also suggested.

Mr. Odam suggested that Mr. Wright be co-opted on the Committee. Family Services could be held at 10.00am at the Ingate Mission Hall once a month.

Col. Moody proposed that the New Rigbourne Hill Church be given a name instead of being a nonentity. Mr. Odam said that there was once a Church near the Ingate Mission hall and would try to find out the name.

Mr. Barber wondered if there were any other people in the Rigbourne Hill area who were not at the original meeting at the County modern School who would like to be on the Committee, If any Committee Member knows of any such person perhaps they would put their names forward.

The meeting closed with prayers.

Naming the new church

At a meeting of the committee on 26th January 1965 it was reported that detailed plans were now available and that the building would be finished six months after commencement of work. A building sub-committee of the Rector, Col. Moody, Mr. Boggis, Mrs. Page and Mrs. M. Crisp was formed.

As for naming the church, St. Luke was proposed by Mrs. M. Crisp and seconded by Mr. Barber. Mr. Platt suggested that the name be put on the board at Rigbourne Hill.

The dedication of St Luke’s Church Centre

On Saturday 12th February 1966 the new St. Luke’s Church Centre was full to overflowing at its dedication by the Bishop of Dunwich, the Right Reverend T. H. Cashmore.

There was a congregation in excess of 200 persons, and some had to be seated in the upstairs room. The Deputy Mayor and Mayoress, Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Davis, clergy of the deanery and ministers of the various churches at Beccles were also present.

This was a dual purpose building combining both the functions of Church and Church Hall. It was designed by Norwich architects, Feilden & Mawson , the building contract for £10,750 being given to Thirtle & Harris Ltd., of Hales.

Both altar and pulpit were made of Colombian pine by Mr. Stephen Restieux. The two black iron candle holders of matching design being made by Mr. Brian Larkman. The bell was kindly presented by William Clowes & Sons Ltd., a local printing firm.

Phase two

After a number of years it was decided to proceed with the second phase of St. Luke’s — that is the raising of funds, design and building of the church. This was a very desirable objective due to the undoubted success of the services and social events all being held in one room.

The Dedication Festival

The following is taken from a newspaper article that advertised a ‘Dedication Festival’ that was to take place during the period September 26th-29th 1973.

The Dedication of St. Luke’s Church. The Bishop of St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich, the Right Reverend Leslie W. Brown, DD, comes to Beccles on Saturday, 29th September, 1973 at 3.00 p.m. to dedicate the new St. Luke’s Church at the top of Rigbourne Hill — the climax of more than ten years of planning, prayer and work.

Work on the new church was begun on January 18th, and the foundation stone laid on February 3rd. Money has been raised in a variety of ways — not least by the St. Luke’s Thrift Shop in Smallgate.

Many people recall the dedication of our present building, primarily a hall, by the Bishop of Dunwich on February 12th 1966.

Other events advertised within this article were a concert by the Wrentham Band, Suffolk champions and East Anglian Championship band. Prior to this would be a short piano recital by Malcolm Herbert. “Parchment”, the Liverpool group that recorded the chart-topping theme song for the London festival for Jesus in 1972 were also to give a performance. There was also a concert given by the choirs and orchestra of the Sir John Leman High School which comprised a varied programme of high quality by our own youngsters.