The Church, built in 1864, is situated at the foot of
Whyteleafe Hill and is built on an artificial mound. A Mr Drew who owned 'Whiteleaf
House', as it was then called, obtained the release of the land. The Church
was consecrated on December 4th 1866.
Since it was built St Luke's has had three major extensions. The nave and
chancel are the same width and the entrance is via the new porch at the west
end. The choir vestry, organ chamber and the clergy vestry, sited south of
the chancel was built in 1887. The present pews were purchased in 1938.
Invoices exist for the new pews to be made from the best Austrian Oak.
Costing at the time £12.17.6d each.
In 1938 the bell and its housing was moved from the middle of the Church to
its present position at the west end. In 1968, following the centenary of
the building of the Church the North Transept was added in accordance with
designs by Frank Senior and Partners.
In 1983 the old porch was demolished and a new porch constructed to the
design of and under the direction of P G Kennedy of Macintosh Haines &
Kennedy. The walls are faced with red brickwork with stone dressings to the
window openings etc., the external walls have a plinth of knapped flint
except the additions added subsequently which have brick plinths. The
interior is plastered. The roofs are of timber construction, tiled.
Internally, the rafters and trusses are exposed and the spaces between the
rafters are plastered.
On 13th August 1940 St Luke's became the first Church to be damaged by enemy
action when a bomb landed outside the Church in Whyteleafe Hill. On the
north wall of the Nave is a 'Book of Remembrance' recording the names of the
R.A.F. personnel of the Battle of Britain who served at nearby R.A.F. Kenley.
St Luke's still has strong links with R.A.F.A. The War Graves Commission
look after the graves in the churchyard of those killed in action during the
last war. We also have links with the local school and uniformed
organisations.