Finalists 2025
We're very excited to announce the finalists in the National Church Awards 2025
This year, the National Church Awards will be celebrating the dedication, care and impact of the people who care for the UK’s wonderful church buildings and who share them with others.
Whether that is keeping a church, chapel or meeting house well maintained, opening it up for visitors or running a community project from the building, we have heard about the amazing ways teams of volunteers ay churches, chapels and meeting houses are making a difference. We love sharing their brilliant efforts in keeping churches open and serving local people.
We have the chance to celebrate these awards at a very special event in an incredible location this Autumn. To help us make the most of this opportunity and draw attention to the vital contribution that volunteers make to keeping churches open, we have combined our core categories for this year.
Where the church has a page on our website, we have linked to it. If the name of the church is underlined, simply click or tap to find out more about the building or plan a visit.
Church & Community Volunteer Awards
In partnership with the Marsh Charitable Trust.
As part of the submission we asked : What is your star community activity?
Atherton : Chowbent Unitarian Chapel
"Our weekly coffee mornings offer free breakfasts, games, and chat. They tackle loneliness, build community, and connect people to support. We’re proud it’s grown from a 6 week trial into a much loved, self-sustaining weekly tradition."
Gloucester : Ukrainian Church of The Good Shepherd
"Without a doubt - the last three and a half years have been when the church and the community have come into their own. Within hours a collection was set up from the church and is still running to this day. Also the help given to refugees."
"Our proudest achievement is raising £62,000 in just 18 months to restore our crumbling bell tower. It was a true act of community engagement, donations, cake sales, and confetti-filled AGMs - all to hear our bells ring with joy once more."
"Our singing for fun group. The group comprises singers aged from 15 to 98. Sessions are led by a music practitioner. The group is made up from both parishioners and the local community. The group sang for the official opening of the Minster."
Old Bolingbroke : St Peter & St Paul
"Overall, the ability to bring everyone from the entire community into the church at some point during the year - the sheer range of diverse activities. If we had to choose one then the "Brides of Bolingbroke" wedding dresses event with a service."
"The Community Kitchen set up in 2024 offers free meals, prepared in our kitchen, for our community on one day each week. Donations are invited from all those who can afford them. We have also offered packed lunches to children in the school holidays."
As part of the submission we asked : What is your star community activity?
Belfast : The Duncairn
"Our star activity is our arts and culture programming. We are most proud of making the arts accessible to a community that has historically been underserved, which not only enriches lives but also contributes to positive social change."
Belfast Docklands : Sinclair Seamen's Presbyterian
"Open to the public visitors on Wednesday and other days being able to show our unique church interior/exterior its history heritage and story and also our outreach to the Bridges skate park, students lunch and business people."
Dunmurry : First Presbyterian (NS) Church
"The Very Rev William McMillan Library - a remarkable achievement by the church. It has gone from a totally unsorted collection of books and documents to a fully catalogued collection which is professionally stored in all the most appropriate ways."
As part of the submission we asked : What is your star community activity?
Aberdour : Aberdour Parish Church
"The Friends are most proud of the Hub which is used by local folk as well as visitors who see the signs when passing through the village, including visitors from abroad who have popped in to have a cup of tea/coffee and look round the church."
Inverness : Ness Bank
"Although feeding the hungry, as implied by the name, was the initial motive for the project, social inclusion and treating people with dignity is the key aim. Guests are welcomed by name and served at tables without having to queue."
Monymusk : Bennachie Parish
"We have provided weekly ‘mainly music®’ sessions for over 12 years, giving 25 young families with babies and under 5s, and older volunteers a caring Christian setting for social fun with music activities, tea and cakes. Strengthening the community."
As part of the submission we asked : What is your star community activity?
"Activities are diverse, and aimed at all ages and interests. They range from children’s activities to jewellery classes, Welsh language to recovery support, wellbeing sessions plus martial arts and physical exercise classes at our nearby Parish Hall."
"That standing alongside the teams at the Castle and walls (Cadw) and the Telford Bridge (National Trust), our parish church has a team of welcomers that is effective, committed and consistently on a level with their professional counterparts."
"That has to be Warm Space. Every week for 2 years we have cooked a 3 course meal for the village, providing a warm and caring environment for people affected by the cost of living crisis. We serve 60 meals and people now come from other villages too."
Ty'n y Groes : Capel / Chapel
"Annual Daffodil Festival, concerts, charitable events and talks on historical events."
Friends award
Through their support and generous donations, our growing number of Friends help us carry out our work of supporting churches in so many ways. Our Friends Award gives them the opportunity to help us select a church we have recently funded to receive an additional grant of £10,000. Below are the shortlisted churches. There's still time to become a Friend of the National Churches Trust and vote in this year's Friends Award.
A medieval church at the centre of the beautiful walled town of Conwy, at the mouth of the Conwy river.
Hear from Conwy St Mary:
“St Mary’s Church with its tower stands at the heart of Conwy. It predates the surrounding castle and walls. The tower is in a poor state of repair and needs sensitive conservation. The castle is set within a UNESCO heritage site attracting many visitors. In turn so does the church, with hundreds entering each week. We aim for the tower to still be here long after the castle disappears.
The tower stands on a pedestrian crossroads: a place of decisions, whether to carry on by, take the shortcut or to stop and explore through the tower doorway. We imagine it as a 3-dimensional crossroads, as the tower adds that vertical [link] to heaven. Beauty attracts, yet the additional welcome of our volunteers in the church work together to invite people to stop and consider not only the story of the tower, but the story of faith to which it points.”
An important Catholic church, with stained glass by Pugin and the tombs of the family of Sir Walter Scott.
Hear from Edinburgh St Margaret’s Chapel:
“St Margaret’s Chapel is a hidden gem in the heart of Edinburgh. The chapel and former convent, designed by James Gillespie Graham, opened in 1835 with the founding of the first Catholic religious house in Scotland since the Reformation. The chapel has much of historic interest, including stained glass windows by Pugin depicting Malcolm III, husband of St Margaret, and their sons, also kings of Scotland. Several members of Sir Walter Scott’s family are buried in the crypt.
The building urgently needs repair to ensure important historical and architectural features are not lost or further damaged. [The] stone fall is a health and safety issue and is delaying plans to make the chapel more accessible and open more frequently to the public.”
A magnificent church by acclaimed architects Joseph Hansom and Adrian Gilbert Scott. The church is of vast Cathedral proportions, in the 14th century French Gothic style.
Hear from Manchester Holy Name:
“Restoring the tower at this beautiful Grade I listed church in Manchester is the final phase of decades of restoration work. The Twentieth Century Society notes that this church is ‘amongst the most significant buildings with national importance’ and continues to function with tens of thousands of worshippers and visitors and provides outreach to the elderly, school groups and [people who are] disabled.”
An iconic church seen for miles around on the isolated plateau of the Lizard peninsula at the end of England.
Hear from Grade St Grada & Holy Cross:
“Another winter of big storms in Cornwall left a hole the size of a large skylight in our exposed roof and damaged the inside plaster, leaving debris in the church. We have repaired the hole as [it was] an emergency, but the inside plaster remains doubtful, so part of the church is unusable. We are mightily concerned about our VAT deficit of £56,000 and if we can’t start until March 2026, it is a huge problem to lose the £25,000 from Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.
On a brighter note our new visitor counter is installed and in the first 3 days, 126 people visited. Everybody is relieved that the hole is no longer visible from the outside. Our local community is very supportive, and we would like to off er more for them to enjoy, as well as our growing number of visitors attracted by the church’s splendid isolation and tranquility.”
An Arts & Crafts church with a fascinating role in Presbyterian history.
Hear from Lisburn Hillhall Presbyterian Church:
“Not only is Hillhall Church [a] historic building of significant architectural interest, it is an important part of the local community, hosting weekly worship and various organisations covering all ages, plus other special events throughout the year. The urgent need to re-render the building came very soon after a major £240k+ heating project that is still being paid off . However, we have had huge support both from our members and the wider community and the grants received to date have provided a vital much needed boost.
We are almost in a position to fully fund this project, to both protect the building and provide a community hub for generations to come, but we do still have a shortfall. With work due to start in the next couple of months it would be amazing to secure a further grant to help get us over the finish line.”
Church architecture awards
In partnership with the Ecclesiastical Architects & Surveyors Association (EASA).
The King of Prussia Gold Medal is for innovative, high quality church conservation or repair work.
As part of the submission we asked for a short description of the project.
"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.
Dronfield : St John the Baptist
"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.
"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."
"External conservation and internal reordering project."
Stonham Parva : St Mary the Virgin
"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 F.A. 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."
Turville : St Mary the Virgin
"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."
The Presidents' Award celebrates the best new church building, including re-ordering, extensions or alterations to existing church buildings.
As part of the submission we asked for a short description of the project.
"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. "
Handsworth : St Mary the Virgin
"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.”
"External conservation and internal reordering project."
Totton : St Winifrid
"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."
"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."
The Young Architect or Surveyor of the Year celebrates up and coming talent.
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
Liberty Watts
For the project at Turville : St Mary the Virgin
Tom Crooks
For the project at Dronfield : St John the Baptist
MikeSwift