A bold new era has begun at a Church of England church in Lancashire following a dramatic transformation project to give the building a new lease of life. 

Now the congregation of St Luke’s in Blackburn is heading back into the building as of this week with special events to mark the occasion.  

And they do so with a renewed spirit of optimism to reach out and support the local community they serve in many different ways.  

The main church building has been completely reordered and redecorated while a new-build church hall lies alongside; already nominated for two architectural awards.  

Following a community launch event on Wednesday there will be a ‘Homecoming Service’ this Sunday at 11am.  

• Coverage of the community event can also be heard this Sunday on BBC Radio Lancashire this Sunday, on Joe Wilson’s show, between 6-10am. Show will also be available after broadcast here on BBC Sounds. 

The Community launch was attended by Rt Rev Dr Jill Duff, Anglican Bishop of Lancaster; Rev Cath Brooks, Vicar of the Benefice of St Luke’s and St Aidan; Rev Jason Gardner, Church Leader at St Luke’s and his wife Rachel, who is the Youth Innovation Leader. 

Also attending were the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Councillor Parwaiz Akhtar; children from local schools St Luke’s and St Philip’s Primary Academy and the choir from St Wilfrid’s Academy (who also performed); other church leaders from the local community and many local partners, including Lancashire Police, Blackburn Foodbank and the architects of the new church hall, Patrick Wilson Architects.  

St Luke’s is now part of the Diocese’s exciting and innovative ‘Lighting Up New Generations’ project following massive, much appreciated investment from the national Church.  

That means, in addition to serving its local community, St Luke’s is also looking to establish a multi-generational ‘resourcing church’ in the town that supports youth ministry there of course, but also across the whole Diocese. Currently, a third of those going to St Luke’s are under 16!  

Jason said: “We arrived two years ago to help breathe fresh life back into St Luke’s and the local communities around here. Thanks to the Diocese of Blackburn and the Church Commissioners we have been able to get the building missional ready as a Youth ‘Resourcing Church’.  

“Although the past two years has seen a lot of work on the building we haven’t been standing still, we have been building relationships with the community, with young people, with the schools and this week is a celebration of all that and what we have to look forward to as well. 

“People who worshipped here previously are still here and still playing a massive part so we are now multi-generational.” 

Referring to the huge amount of housebuilding that has also taken place Rachel around St Luke’s in recent years, Rachel added: “Members of our congregation on Sunday morning are often people who have walked 100 yards from their house. Quite a of lot of teenagers are coming on their own to church because they are loving what’s happening here and then, excitingly bringing their parents!  

“This week is an exciting celebration of how the church can play an active part and bring hope and good news in and to this community.” 

• Watch a video featuring Jason and Rachel here on X (formerly known as Twitter).

During the community launch, those attending watched a special video about the mission of St Luke’s and other similar churches across the country and there were a number of panels where people who have played a key part in the journey to this point were introduced. Rev Cath Brooks spoke of how she had the vision for a youth-focused church not long after arriving back in 2013.  

Cath held onto the vision for several years before a conversation with Bishop Jill led to the path towards the national church investment to make the vision a reality.  

Cath said: “During lockdown in 2020 something good came out of that time! It was then that Bishop Jill asked me if I had ever thought about a Youth Resourcing Church at St Luke’s! I was delighted and that was the take-off moment; the birth of what we see today.” 

• Watch a video featuring Rev Cath here on X (formerly known as Twitter).

And Bishop Jill commented: “I have to pinch myself really to look back on the journey since that meeting with Rev Cath in lockdown, to see what we have today. It is a testimony to the Lord’s miraculous work in so many different ways. I want to thank everyone who has made it happen and all the community representative who have come today and are supporting our work. May this be a place from where many beacons are lit across this town and the whole of Lancashire; where many young people can come home and meet with Jesus.” 

• Watch a video of Bishop Jill here on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Meanwhile, the Mayor, Parwaiz Akhtar, added: “It’s a privilege and honour to come here today as Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen and to see what a wonderful new resource has been created here in this 140 year-old building; a place where the local community – and particularly the young people of the area – can come together.” 

• Watch a video of the Mayor here on X (formerly known as Twitter).

The Community Launch movingly concluded with prayers for the whole St Luke’s community, led by leaders from other local churches.  

Meanwhile, the ‘Homecoming Service’ - ‘part two’ of this week’s re-opening celebrations - takes place at 11am this Sunday morning, October 1. All are welcome! Church website is here; postcode to get there is BB2 2PF.

Captions for pictures, top to bottom:
All pictures taken by Clive Lawrence  

• 1 Rev Cath Brooks reflects on the last 10 years in a panel chaired by Rev Jason, left and featuring Becky Gilbert-Rule from the architects 
• 2 Rev Jason, Bishop Jill, the Mayor, Parwaiz Akhtar, Rev Cath and Rachel Gardner after the launch event 
• 3 Smiles in the audience at the community launch 
• 4 St Luke's congregation and local schools are joined by community partners and friends at the launch event 
• 5 St Luke's logo on TV screen 
• 6 St Wilfrid's Choir entertained at the community launch 
• 7 The choir from St Wilfrid's entertains beneath the stunning new ceiling of St Luke's in blue and white