Funky Venues

Venue Review

Character: Grade 1 Neo classical ecclesiastical meets airy modern concert hall.

Funky Features: Renovated crypt, Chance to train as a Balinese Gamelan orchestral musician.

Location and History

This handsome church was originally built on marshy land that nearly claimed the building in 1959 when the church then known as ‘Lousy St Luke’s’ was abandoned because of its unstable roof. The LSO salvaged the obsolete building, lovingly restored the façade and renovated the interior to exacting contemporary design and acoustic standards. The church is set away from the road within original cream railings that border the grassy areas around the church.

Interior

New features – such as tall, heavy wooden doors, black and white stone tiling in the foyers, curving stone stairs – add charm to the architecture of the original building with its exposed brick and stonework. A new steel structured mezzanine has been installed in the main hall. Above it a skylight provides dramatic views of the church’s spire. The result is a fine blend of old a new, a building that looks elegant by day and dramatically spectacular by night.

Spaces for Hire

The main and largest space for hire, the Jerwood Hall, occupies the main body of the building: a large open space with parquet flooring and extremely flexible seating that can accommodate concerts, conferences, lectures, receptions and dinners. Modern interior windows feature integral blinds for the control of natural light and ensure maximum soundproofing.

The crypt (formerly a series of barrel-vaulted chambers) has been renovated to provide a variety of spaces for hire: the café area can serve as a dining area when any of the other spaces are being used, or a space for smaller receptions. Beyond the café are two rooms that are ideal for seminars and brainstorming due to the privacy provided by the excellent soundproofing.

The LSO offers an unusual opportunity for team-building exercises in the form of a gamelan, an ornate Balinese percussion orchestra which is played according to the Balinese cultural customs: instruments are played bare foot and players are refreshed with tea during the session. Up to 25 people can learn how to play the instruments which require nothing more than an open mind and a degree of enthusiasm.