Our heritage

We’re proud that St Luke’s has helped clergy to flourish in their ministry for 130 years

Our beginnings

Established by Canon William Henry Cooper in 1892, St Luke’s Hostel later became St Luke’s Hospital for the Clergy. Clinicians gave their time free of charge and running costs were covered by donations from trusts, parishes, livery companies, individuals and legacies. After the hospital closed in 2009, the charity’s vision remained unchanged: to offer the clergy a wide range of medical and psychological care from skilled, sympathetic clinicians.

Our clinicians

Until 2022, St Luke’s work was underpinned by many eminent clinicians in the fields of medicine, surgery, psychiatry and psychology. They generously provided advice, second opinions and sometimes early diagnosis for the clergy and their families.

Flourishing clergy

Our preventive wellbeing work was launched in 2013, initially offering St Luke’s Resilience Workshops and Reflective Practice Groups to clergy through their dioceses. A greater emphasis was put on this area of work from 2019.

2022: Our next steps

Now styled St Luke’s for Clergy Wellbeing, the charity is focusing all its efforts to meet the area of greatest need – wellbeing and psychological support – and is no longer offering physical healthcare. St Luke’s works with all 42 Anglican dioceses in England, all six in Wales, and the Church of Ireland.

Read more about our journey here

 

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