The Parish Church of Saint Luke’s, Chelsea, is an Anglican church, on Sydney Street, Chelsea, London SW3, just off the King’s Road. Ecclesiastically it is in the Deanery of Chelsea, part of the Diocese of London.It was designed by James Savage in 1819 and is one of the earliest Gothic Revival churches in London. St Luke’s is a one of the first group of Commissioners’ churches, having received a grant towards its construction with money voted by Parliament as a result of the Church Building Act of 1818.
Charles Dickens and Saint Luke’s Church.
Charles Dickens was married at Saint Luke’s church to Catherine Hogarth on 2 April 1836, two days after the publication of the first part of the The Pickwick Papers, his first great success. The Church was close to the home of the Hogarth family and Charles Dickens had taken lodgings at nearby 11 Selwood Terrace, Brompton, whilst courting Catherine.
Fanny Dickens.
The following year, on Wednesday 13 September, Frances “Fanny” Dickens, the beloved older sister of Charles, married Henry Burnett at St. Luke’s Church. Burnett was a fellow pupil from the Royal Academy of Music.
Location.
The church is designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building. Nearby is 11 Selwood Terrace, Brompton, which Charles Dickens rented to be near Catherine Hogarth.