Listed Building record MDR4949 - St Luke's Church, Church Street, Ripley

St Luke's Church, Church Street, Ripley, built c1646 with earlier materials. The church at Heage was built, in 1836, onto the west end of St. Luke's Chapel, the latter becoming the chancel of the new church. The west wall of the chapel, on which there was a bell turret, was pulled down. In 1820 the chapel was measured by Mr. Rawlins at 46ft 10ins by 17ft 5ins. A sketch by Rawlins shows features probably debased in the 17th century. A letter quoted by Lysons (2) tells of the destruction of the chapel by a tempest on 20th June 1545, and is the first definite record of the chapel. The chapel was probably in a state of more or less dilapidation until repaired, probably by George Pole. A stone with his initials and the date 1661 is in the south wall near the porch, having been previously in the west end of the chapel. ".. ..It may be conjectured with certainty that there was a chapel at Heage at a date earlier than any details of the present structure would warrant us in assuming. In the year 1343 mention is made of one Nicholas 'le clerk de Heghedge". (1-2) 'St Luke's Church has a T-plan owing to an addition of 1826 to an earlier building. The plan turned out (by chance probably) to be one of those specially recommended for Protestant worship from the early days. The only part of the medieval church to survive the furious storm of 1545 was the east window of three stepped lancet lights cusped. The rest of the old part (now the chancel (1979)) was rebuilt in 1646-61 and has small straight-headed side windows. The new part is taller and has the typical early 19th century lancets of two lancet lights with pierced spandrels. Over the entrance is a polygonal bell-turret (1896?). The date 1752 on the door lintel does not refer to either main building period.' (3) The first mention of the church at Heage is a letter telling of its destruction in a storm in 1545. The medieval church, which was a chapelry of Duffield, did not survive this storm and all that is left of it is the east window. The chancel was rebuilt in 1646-61, and a newer part was added in 1826, giving the church its T-shaped layout. The Parliamentary Commissioners recommended in 1650 that Bellper and Heage be united in to one parish. The church was reordered c1897 by P H Currey. (4) The burial ground is only 145 years old and early Heage burials have been looked for at Duffield church. (5) From the National Heritage List for England: 'SK 35 SE RIPLEY CHURCH STREET, Heage (west side) 3/70 Church of St Luke 29.11.65 II* Church. 1646-61 re-using some earlier materials, with addition of 1826 plus 1933 addition and minor alterations. C17 part of coursed rubble stone with ashlar dressing and quoins, plus graduated stone slate roof with stone coped gables on plain kneelers, 1826 addition of coursed squared stone with ashlar dressing and plain tile roof with stone coped gables and octagonal stone bellcote to north gable end which has lancets to each side with hoodmoulds and stone roof with foliage finial. T-plan, low 3 bay C17 part with south porch running east-west with 1826 addition at right angles to west end. South gable wall of 1826 part has steps up to pointed flush doorcase with metal clock-face above. West wall has four large lancets with returned hoodmoulds and Y-tracery metal windows with glazing bars. North wall blank except for central buttress, square to base and octagonal over, which supports the bellcote. East elevation has similar window to western ones, to south side. C17 part has 3-light Perpendicular east window, three C17 2-light recessed and chamfered mullion windows to south side with gabled porch between western two, and similar window to north side with 1933 vestry added to west. Porch has double panelled door below plain lintel inscribed 'JW 1752' and to west is a stone with inset lead inscription 'G 1661 P'. Simple pointed arched inner door flanked by stone benches. Vestry has 2-light window and door to east also and 3- light flat headed window to north with semi-circular headed lights and hoodmould. Above in the gable is datestone inscribed 'JM 1933'. To west of vestry is another 2-light C17 style window and to east is a large buttress. Interior of earlier part has raised and fielded panelling to dado height, C19 scissor truss roof, and two trefoil headed painted commandment plaques to either side of altar. 1826 part has painted flat ceiling with moulded plaster cornice, C19 organ to north end and C12 circular font bowl on C19 octagonal stone stem. 1826 hatchment over south door. Plain C19 pews throughout. Two brass plaques on north wall of earlier part, one charity plaque of c1705 and one memorial to Joseph Statham, c1809. Listing NGR: SK3696550627.' (6)