Wallsend’s 150th Anniversary Marked by Historic St Luke’s Evensong

Wallsend celebrated its 150th anniversary with a memorable Evensong service at St Luke’s Church, featuring a special tribute to priest and poet Thomas Traherne, 350 years after his passing. The event included music from renowned composers like Ayelward, Gibbons, and Thomas Tallis, brought to life by the Cathedral Choir and the church’s historic pipe organ.

The organ, crafted in London in 1855 by J.R. Walker, is one of the oldest in the Hunter Valley. Originally installed in St Mary’s Church in Maitland, it was transferred to St Luke’s in Wallsend in 1880 for the sum of £100. It journeyed down the Hunter River before being installed in the newly built St Luke’s Church, replacing an earlier timber-slab building.

The organ shares its origins with an identical instrument now located in Mudgee, NSW. Both are consecutive numbers in J.R. Walker’s order book, making them “twins.” The Mudgee organ was later transferred from the Anglican Church to the Presbyterian Church, where it remains in use today.

Recent restoration efforts by Ian D. Brown and Associates have returned the organ to its former glory, with wooden tracker action restored and new stop knobs installed to match the original design.

Photos from the event, courtesy of Steve Garz from the Wallsend Heritage Group, capture the historic significance and beauty of St Luke’s Church, which has stood as a local landmark since its dedication in December 1880.

The service was a fitting celebration of Wallsend’s rich history and enduring community spirit.