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 enlighten-
ed 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 pe-
diment, broken by the rise of the tower to
which it joins on each side.  The upper-
most 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

This hospital, which takes its name
from its being situated in St. Luke's pa-
rish, is supported by private subscriptions,
and is designed as an improvement upon
Bethlem, which was incapable of receiv-
ing 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 ad-
mission of a patient into the hospital of
Bethlem, which had discouraged many
applications for the benefit of that cha-
rity, particularly on the behalf of the
more necessitous objects, and of such who
resided in the remote parts of this king-
dom.  By this unavoidable exclusion and
delay many useful members have been lost
to society, either by the disease gaining