The church was built to serve the railway workers whose houses form the surrounding streets, situated to the north of the railway station in Kingston. The parish was poor but, through the well-connected wife of the first vicar, received sponsorship from society figures, most notably Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, granddaughter of George III and mother of Queen Mary, consort of George V. This allowed for the prominent church which stands today, the spire of which was completed in 1891 following a further donation of funds by Lady Wolverton.
A painting showing the original design for the church survives. It shows that the building was constructed largely as it was intended by the architects, with only the design of the spire being slightly modified and a clock inserted into the tower. Following extensive research by two local parishioners, the painting was discovered on 2 August 2019; it now rests with the vicar of St Luke's Church, Fr Martin.[1]
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