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Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Macca helps save The Bombed Out Church

The interior of St. Luke's; 1941
St Luke's Church stands proudly at 41 meters (133 feet) tall, 18 meters (60 feet) wide, and 54 meters (177 feet 6 inches) long on the corner of Berry Street and Leece Street in the heart of Liverpool. Designed by John Foster Sr and John Foster Jr in the early 1800s, the building was complete in 1832 becoming an Anglican Parish church becoming known as "the doctor's church", being near Rodney Street, home of many local doctors. Through 1832 St Luke's was not only used for religious purposes but as a venue of celebrations as well as a concert hall until 1849 when the Philhamronic Hall opened on Hope Street.  To many Liverpudlians this church is known as 'The Bombed Out Church', due to the Liverpool Blitz on 6 May, 1941. During this brutal bombings St. Luke's suffered from an incendiary device causing a rapid fire. As fire spread, the interior turned to ash while the exterior and shell still stand today. In 1952 the church became known as a Grade II building, being defined as "particularly important buildings of more than special interest" (English Heritage, Listed Buildings).

Yes, yes, I know, the name of this website is "The Fab Four Blog", so why am I telling you about a church?
Two days ago, Sunday 5 October, 2014, it was announced that Sir James Paul McCartney is helping  the Bombed Out Church's Crowdfunder campaign and Club Freeze to preserve this "international legend" (says Curator of St Luke's, Ambrose Reynolds). After Crowdfunder raised over £20,000 towards the church, Club Freeze dance music promoter's turned to one of Liverpool's most iconic productions, Paul McCartney, who was delighted to help;
"St Luke's Church - better known as 'The Bombed - Out Church' to the people of Liverpool- is a place that encourages people to express themselves. The people of Liverpool should do everything possible to keep this venue open for the use of the people and run by the people. It is a place that is regularly staffed by students from LIPA and every-day people of all ages, religions and backgrounds. It would be a terrible shame if we lost this cultural icon." -Sir James Paul McCartney via PaulMcCartney.com
Not only has Paul McCartney taken a step towards helping a Liverpool treasure, but John Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, who had taken a keen interest in the church, even making it part of her "Skyladder" art work this past March. As part of her work she stated that the idea was for her husband John, Lennon that is, who was "very proud of Liverpool". After her husbands passing she had the urge to visit Liverpool and start a public art display of stepping ladders inside The Bombed-Out church for anyone to bring a ladder that "takes you a bit closer to the sky." (Yoko Ono, Yoko Ono: Skyladders ).
Skyladders

Along with her art display Yoko Ono takes her own part in spreading awareness to raise money for the struggling church via Twitter where she wrote
"Seven reasons why we should cherish Liverpool's St Luke's Bombed Out Church http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/seven-reasons-should-cherish-liverpools-6860932 "

If you're interested in taking part in the progression to save The Bombed-Out Church here are some ways;

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