St. Luke’s, in Old street, was erected on account of the great increase of buildings in the parish of St. Giles, Cripplegate; for notwithstanding there being a chapel of ease, and several meeting-houses, the parish church could not contain half the inhabitants who were desirous of assembling there to attend divine worship. The Commissioners for erecting the fifty new churches taking this into consideration, purchased a piece of ground in this parish, and erected one of those churches upon it; after which the inhabitants applying to Parliament, had the Middlesex liberty of St. Giles appointed for the parish; and by the same act 3500l. was granted to be laid out in fee simple, for the support of a Rector, besides the profits of which the church-wardens were to pay him annually 120l. to be raised by burial fees.
The church was finished in 1732, and was consecrated the next year on St. Luke’s day, when the name of that saint was given as its patron. Though the building is convenient and well enlightened with two rows of windows, it is a very singular structure. In the center of the west front is the entrance, adorned with coupled Doric pilasters; and to this door is an ascent by a small strait flight of steps. Over the entrance is a round window, and on each side a small tower covered with a dome, and ornamented with two windows in front, one of the usual form, and another over it, answering to that over the door. The tower is carried up square, and behind it the roof of the church forms to the west a kind of pediment, broken by the rise of the tower to which it joins on each side. The uppermost stage of the tower diminishes very considerably, and this, which is the base of an obelisk, supports on each side a dial. From hence rises, as a steeple, a fluted obelisk, which reaches to a great height, diminishing slowly, and being of a considerable thickness towards the top, the upper edges are sloped off. In short, the whole is terminated by a ball and fane.
The advowson of this church is in the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul’s, and it is not to be held in commendam; all licences and dispensations for that purpose being declared void by the act abovementioned.
St. Luke’s Hospital for lunatics, a neat and very plain structure, at the north end of Moorfields. Nothing is here expended in ornament, and we only see a building of considerable length plaistered over and whitened, with ranges of small square windows, on which no decorations have been bestowed.
This hospital, which takes its name from its being situated in St. Luke’s parish, is supported by private subscriptions, and is designed as an improvement upon Bethlem, which was incapable of receiving and providing for the relief of all the unhappy objects for whom application was made.
Some of the reasons for setting on foot this kind and generous design, were, the expence and difficulty attending the admission of a patient into the hospital of Bethlem, which had discouraged many applications for the benefit of that charity, particularly on the behalf of the more necessitous objects, and of such who resided in the remote parts of this kingdom. By this unavoidable exclusion and delay many useful members have been lost to society, either by the disease gaining strength beyond the reach of physic, or by the patients falling into the hands of persons unskilled in the treatment of this disorder. And many of the unhappy persons afflicted with it, have from this delay, and the want of being put under the care of those experienced in guarding against their attempts, frequently committed the most fatal acts of violence on themselves, their relations and attendants. Had they joined this to Bethlem hospital, it would have deprived it of two of its principal advantages, the being under the immediate inspection and government of its own patrons and supporters; and of introducing more gentlemen of the faculty to the study and practice of one of the most important branches of physic.
In this hospital patients are taken in according to the order of time in which the petitions of their friends have been delivered to the Secretary, without favour or partiality. They are even admitted without any expence, except only such as are parish poor must have their bedding provided, and this they are at liberty to take away at their discharge.
On the admission of every patient, two responsible housekeepers, residing within the bills of mortality, must enter into a bond to the Treasurer for the time being, in the penalty of 100l. to take away such patient within seven days after notice given them for that purpose by the committee, or their Secretary. These securities must leave their names with their places of abode in writing, delivered to the Secretary at least four days before such admission, and must be approved of by the committee: but no Governor is to be security for any patient.
The patients in this hospital are not exposed to public view; and no money received for the use of this charity, is expended in entertaining the general court of committee at any of their meetings.
But no person is to be admitted who has been a lunatic above twelve calendar months; or has been discharged as incurable from any other hospital for the reception of lunatics; or who has the venereal disease; is troubled with epileptic or convulsive fits, or is deemed an ideot; nor any woman with child.