(no subject)
Jun. 1st, 2008 12:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rebnessI'm rather annoyed because I forgot to bring my SD camera card home and so it's going to be an even longer wait before I can upload my awesome Bosnia photos.
But let me show you something else instead. Right in the city centre in Liverpool, there is a decrepit churc called St. Luke's, a dubious landmark better known to Liverpudlians as 'The Bombed-Out Church'. It is reasonably old, with work begun in 1811. It has been closed off to the public since 5th of May, 1941, when an incendiary bomb was dropped by the Germans, destroying the interior of the church with fire.
For years, Chris and I have ached to go and see the inside of the church. I even took to begging a film crew that were using the grounds for a television drama a few years back, to no avail. So when we saw that the church has been opened as part of an art installation, with admission a princely £1, we leapt at the chance. Thankfully, Chris had his camera with him that day...
But let me show you something else instead. Right in the city centre in Liverpool, there is a decrepit churc called St. Luke's, a dubious landmark better known to Liverpudlians as 'The Bombed-Out Church'. It is reasonably old, with work begun in 1811. It has been closed off to the public since 5th of May, 1941, when an incendiary bomb was dropped by the Germans, destroying the interior of the church with fire.
For years, Chris and I have ached to go and see the inside of the church. I even took to begging a film crew that were using the grounds for a television drama a few years back, to no avail. So when we saw that the church has been opened as part of an art installation, with admission a princely £1, we leapt at the chance. Thankfully, Chris had his camera with him that day...
The silent and foreboding facade. Pictures from the interior under the 
The photograhs around the windows are of how the church used to look, the original plans and information about the Irish famine.
Reverse side of the bell tower, blackened by smoke from the fire that raged through the interior.
It's bizarre and beautiful to see the grass and the ivy reclaiming the land.
The aisle. The seating and the decor is long gone, reclaimed by nature on either side, but the stone flagging still remains.
Although most windows were blown out by the bomb, one can still see remnants of stained glass that have somehow survived the bomb, the ensuing fire and the years of neglect.
The ruins of the bell tower.
I'm thrilled that we finally managed to see that church. It's a piece of history that is now being actively preserved because it's such a huge part of local culture - the war, the Irish famine and how it changed Liverpool forever. It's a much-loved landmark and, ironically, its decay has saved it. Whereas the beautiful old Polish church was turned into the Alma de Cuba bar, this church shall now be preserved. For once, the city council's policy of neglect has worked to Liverpool's advantage.
The photograhs around the windows are of how the church used to look, the original plans and information about the Irish famine.
Reverse side of the bell tower, blackened by smoke from the fire that raged through the interior.
It's bizarre and beautiful to see the grass and the ivy reclaiming the land.
The aisle. The seating and the decor is long gone, reclaimed by nature on either side, but the stone flagging still remains.
Although most windows were blown out by the bomb, one can still see remnants of stained glass that have somehow survived the bomb, the ensuing fire and the years of neglect.
The ruins of the bell tower.
I'm thrilled that we finally managed to see that church. It's a piece of history that is now being actively preserved because it's such a huge part of local culture - the war, the Irish famine and how it changed Liverpool forever. It's a much-loved landmark and, ironically, its decay has saved it. Whereas the beautiful old Polish church was turned into the Alma de Cuba bar, this church shall now be preserved. For once, the city council's policy of neglect has worked to Liverpool's advantage.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-06-01 01:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-01 02:20 pm (UTC)It's amazing to see it finally being used. I was convinced that they'd just end up demolishing St. Luke's.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-01 04:06 pm (UTC)There's a similar thing in Newcastle. People still leave prayers and flowers there. I'm not religious but there's something about it...
no subject
Date: 2008-06-01 07:00 pm (UTC)The church will be open in certain days all summer for events and art exhibitions. Definitely take a look if you're in the area!
no subject
Date: 2008-06-01 04:18 pm (UTC)But what are those blue containers?
no subject
Date: 2008-06-01 07:00 pm (UTC)The containers I think were plants or something for another installation.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-01 10:38 pm (UTC)