It was the coming of the railway,and the prospect of a growing seaside resort that led to the building of a new church. Miles Formby had the idea. He died, but his sister, Mary, and his brother, Richard, built the nave and porch and the Church was consecrated by the Bishop of Chester in 1855.The Chancel and Aisles were added by Richard's daughter Caroline in 1897 in memory of her father. (The picture shows the church before the chancel was added. Picture © Copyright Formby Civic Society)

I said the Church was a gem. It has beautiful stained glass the Minnitt windows in the Chancel, the St Luke window in the west wall and above all the Rose Window, which depicts all the local flowers. All the inscriptions in the west wall windows are medical because Richard Formby was an eminent doctor and a pioneer of anaesthetics in the 1830's.St.Luke, if you remember, was a doctor.Then we've still got the original pews, numbered because people paid for a reserved seat in the old days. We've a fine pulpit and lectern, as well as a modern 3 manual Organ. Memorials around the walls testify to the sacrifices made by village families and the Formby family in two World Wars. And in the porch there's the gravestone of Richard Formby, armour bearer to Henry 4th, who died in 1407. He was originally buried in York Minster but Richard Formby, his descendant, was allowed to bring him home.