Church architecture awards winners 2025
We are thrilled to share the winners of the church architecture awards 2025
There were three awards up for grabs, all of which are run in partnership with the Ecclesiastical Architects & Surveyors Association (EASA). They were announced at the EASA Annual General Meeting, held on Thursday 15 January 2026 at St Millitus College, Kensington.
Nigel Walter, Trustee of the National Churches Trust said:
"The National Churches Trust is delighted to be a partner in the Church Architecture Awards, as part of our wider National Church Awards and engagement strategy. These awards play an important role in championing excellence, innovation, and care in the stewardship of church buildings across the country."
| Nigel Walter (National Churches Trust), Fritzi von Preussen, Bob Thompson (EASA), Kevin Thomas (Ecclesiastical Insurance), Prince Nicholas of Prussia (or Prince Nicholas von Preussen), Sarah Crossland (National Churches Trust), Peter Preston (President, EASA), Andrew Wood (EASA) |
National Church Awards 2025
The church architecture awards are part of our wider National Church Awards, open to churches from across the UK. From eco-churches to community cafés, running tower tours to hosting festivals and concerts, the finalists made an impressive and diverse list. Across all the categories there have been churches, chapels and meeting houses of all different sizes, styles and traditions, all showing that they do amazing things.
The awards were given at the Great Expectations event at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
King of Prussia Gold Medal
The King of Prussia Gold Medal is an award for high quality church conservation or repair work. The architect responsible for the winning project will receive the prestigious King of Prussia Gold Medal. The winning church or chapel receives a £500 prize.
Donald Insall Associates
The project was undertaken to try to resolve the long-standing issue of damp in the church and tower, causing mould and decay. Informed by research by Historic England the proposed solution was to use the traditional construction technique of lime coating to combat moisture penetration. This method was further supported by extensive research that revealed that an original lime coat had been removed by the Victorian's.
The tower's new look has sparked national interest, drawing new visitor's to the church and village. Ultimately, the project has saved the church from irreversible decay, ensuring that the building can continue to serve its community for generations.
The King of Prussia Gold Medal was presented to Will Hague, Andrew Boyce (Donald Insall Associates), Stephanie Durrant, Revd David Clark, and Mary Rose Kearny by Prince Nicholas of Prussia.
Stonham Parva : St Mary the Virgin
Freeland Rees Roberts Architects
Stonham Parva is a Grade I medieval church vested in the Churches Conservation Trust. The tiled nave roof has a fine 15th century oak double hammerbeam roof structure. Affected by death watch beetle attacks, moisture and movement, the structure had been reported to be in poor structural condition for some years.
Henry Freeland worked closely with Clive Dawson, of Hockley & Dawson structural engineers, and conservation contractors FA Valiant & Son to repair the oak structure, sensitively embellishing new piece repairs with matching carving where appropriate, before the roof was re-tiled and rainwater goods were improved. The internal lime plaster was repaired and limewashed.
Dronfield : St John the Baptist
Crooks Architecture
Removal of the vulnerable historic glazing to the Chancel windows for cleaning, repairing and re-leading; mounting of the highly significant medieval glass in bespoke bronze sub-frames (EPG), supplemented with a carefully designed fenestration of new diamond leaded handmade glass and larger laminated handmade glass panels.
Conservation of the stone tracery, implementing a variety of conservation techniques, based on a stone-by-stone assessment, implementing a principle of maximum fabric retention, while also competing with significantly misaligned tracery, past inappropriate repairs and heavy stone decay.
Clews Architects
Following a devastating fire, the building has been thoughtfully and meticulously restored. Extensive repairs include the renewal of windows, floors, and the roof. Fire-damaged plaster, brickwork, and stone elements have been carefully conserved, alongside the preservation of the building’s historic paintwork. A new west entrance and landscape, now offers step-free access - ensuring inclusivity for all visitors. Modern, energy-efficient systems have also been introduced, including new lighting, audio-visual infrastructure, underfloor heating, and upgraded insulation.
Symbolic additions show rebirth, remembrance, and resilience: a striking new design for the stained glass rose window balances the persevered, charred, altar and cross.
Thomas Ford & Partners
External conservation and internal reordering project.
Liberty Rose Architects
St Mary, Turville, a 12th century landmark in the Chiltern Hills AONB, underwent essential repair works in 2024 following years of neglect and inappropriate past interventions. Guided by SPAB principles, the project focused on conserving historic fabric using traditional materials.
Works included re-roofing the tower and associated timber repair, clay tile roof replacements, lime render repairs, stone conservation, internal redecoration, upgraded electrics, lighting, and W/C facilities. The project has conserved the church’s character while improving its condition and usability, ensuring its continued role at the heart of the community.
Presidents' Award
Celebrates the best new church building, including re-ordering, extensions or alterations to existing church buildings. The award is given to the designer and the unique Chalice and Paten are loaned to the winning church. The church or chapel also receives a £500 prize. Nominate an architect or surveyor today.
Totton : St Wins
Snug Architects
The existing building lacked a coherent and contemporary entrance experience adequate for this new expression of church in the new building. We integrated a more legible and generous lobby, a new cafe, a flexible hall, new toilets, and decorated the interior throughout, significantly improving the functionality of the building and warmth of welcome. The new cafe occupies redundant space between the outer arches and serves to activate the building’s frontage. Our proposals also included repairs to roof damage and new heating, lighting and sound systems.
The result is a renewed, growing and thriving church, whose building helps to provide both an inspiring place to worship and a warm welcome at the heart of the community in Totton.
The Presidents' Award was presented to Paul Bulkeley (Snug Architects), Ben Chainey, Beth Malinowski (Snug Architects) from St Win’s, Totton by Nigel Walter (Trustee of the National Churches Trust) andPeter Preston (President of EASA).
Handsworth : St Mary the Virgin
Clews Architects
St Mary’s, Handsworth, a Grade II listed church with 12th century origins, was boldly reordered to meet liturgical and community needs. The project improved flexibility, accessibility, and sustainability, including a new floor, underfloor heating, mobile furniture, and discreet modern facilities.
Sensitive design respected the historic fabric while enhancing worship, community use, and energy efficiency in this iconic “Cathedral of the Industrial Revolution.
The west end reordering project has transformed the west entrance of Grade I listed Chester Cathedral. Works included the creation of a bold bronze porch, restoration of the Great West Doors, new steps and seating and relocating of the 17th century Font into a central setting.
Once an uninviting space, new porch allows the historic doors to remain permanently open, welcoming all to enjoy views into the heart of the church – one of the most important historic buildings in the UK. Inside, a new stone platform has been designed and features new steps, handrails, and balustrade to accommodate tiered seating for large community events.
Now a welcoming and flexible space, there has been a surge in visitors to the Cathedral.
External conservation and internal reordering project.
All Saints, an 800 year old Grade II* listed church in Wokingham, has been re-ordered to meet the needs of a growing community. The project removed fixed pews, installed a breathable heated floor, and added accessible entry, modern facilities, and flexible spaces for worship, events, and gatherings.
Careful design preserved historic character while enabling the church to serve as a vibrant, inclusive hub. Beautifully crafted new interventions include toilets, meeting spaces, kitchens, and storage.
Young Church Architect or Surveyor of the Year Award
This award is selected from the nominations we receive from the categories above. It is for an architect or surveyor that is under the age of 40 who was responsible for a scheme for either the King of Prussia Gold Medal or the Presidents' Award. The winner receives a stained glass roundel, and a cash prize sponsored by Ecclesiastical Insurance.
Lead Architect
The Young Architect or Surveyor of the Year Award was presented to Libby Watts by Kevin Thomas from Ecclesiastical Insurance.
Andrew Perkins for the projects at Handsworth : St Mary the Virgin and Wokingham : All Saints
Beth Malinowski for the project at Totton : St Winifrid
Daniel Potts for the project at Chester : Chester Cathedral
Tom Crooks for the project at Dronfield : St John the Baptist
PaulMiller