National Church Awards 2026 Finalists
Church & Community Volunteer Awards
In partnership with the Marsh Charitable Trust.
John Wesley's New Room in Bristol
The 53 volunteers at John Wesley’s New Room are at the heart of welcoming and sharing the story of the world’s oldest Methodist building. They support every aspect of the site, from welcoming visitors, leading guided tours and assisting with school visits to caring for museum collections, archives and historic buildings. Volunteers played a vital role in reopening Charles Wesley’s House, helping thousands of visitors discover Methodist history through tours, research and interpretation. They also digitise archives, undertake original research, support conservation projects and steward events, helping to preserve and share this important heritage site for future generations.
St Andrew in Brockley, Greater London
St Andrew’s is supported by a diverse team of volunteers drawn from across its multicultural congregation, representing 19 different national heritages. Volunteers welcome visitors, provide pastoral support, prepare meals, organise activities and help create a safe and inclusive environment for people of all ages at risk of social isolation and displacement through local change. Their work is at the heart of the Brockley Number One Club, a thriving community group for older residents that was relaunched in 2024 and now welcomes more than 50 regular attendees for Caribbean meals, activities and companionship. Alongside this community outreach, the church is committed to environmental stewardship through its work towards a Silver Eco Church Award and the creation of wildlife-friendly church grounds.
Canterbury Baptist Church in Canterbury, Kent
The Hub Café and Community Fridge have become valued community resources, providing affordable refreshments, reducing food waste and offering practical support to individuals and families facing financial pressures. Volunteers run every aspect of these services, from food collection and distribution to café hosting, administration and signposting people to further help. The community hub has grown to include a Mental Health Art Club, the Moving Minds walking group and wider support services, helping people improve wellbeing, reduce isolation, find accommodation and build confidence, creating a welcoming and inclusive space where people feel valued and connected.
Union Street Baptist Church in Crewe, Cheshire
Based in the heart of Crewe, the church is supported by a dedicated team of volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds and generations who help maintain the building and deliver activities that support the local community. The church’s Warm Hub, part of the national Warm Welcome Spaces network, provides weekly refreshments, companionship, practical advice and signposting to local support services. Volunteers also support youth groups, contribute to Crewe Foodbank, take part in Crewe Heritage Week, organise a Community Carol Festival, run a guitar club, support children through collections for Sal’s Shoes and participate in town-wide litter picking, helping to create a welcoming and caring presence in the community.
Volunteers are at the heart of St Oswald’s, supporting everything from worship, pastoral care and community outreach to building maintenance, hall management and the preservation of the Grade II listed church and grounds. The Tuesday Café offers a safe and friendly environment for parents, babies and others seeking connection, while the Wednesday Café links residents with local organisations including York Council, Fulford Parish Council, OCAY and the local PCSO. Health Walks and Warm Space events extend this support, helping to reduce isolation and build community. Volunteers also run groups, events and clubs, provide pastoral care, support food banks and recycling initiatives, maintain the church and grounds, and help care for the Grade II listed church building.
Ukrainian Church of The Good Shepherd in Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Volunteers from across generations have helped build and sustain a vibrant Ukrainian church community in Gloucester, including families whose roots in the UK date back to after the Second World War. Since February 2022, the church has played a leading role in supporting Ukraine, operating as a humanitarian aid collection centre and helping to deliver essential supplies, including ambulances. Support for refugees has included English lessons, airport collections, assistance with paperwork and signposting to local services. The church has also established and supported Ukrainian worshipping communities across Gloucester, Worcester, Hereford, Malvern, Bristol and Cardiff. Alongside this ongoing work, it hosts community events and weekly coffee mornings that provide opportunities for friendship, support and connection.
A team of 87 volunteers supports every aspect of Cathedral life, contributing thousands of hours each year to ensure the Cathedral remains open, welcoming and accessible to all. Volunteers greet visitors, lead tours, steward events, support the shop, choirs and family activities, assist with worship and help care for the building and its heritage. Expert volunteer tour guides bring the Cathedral’s history to life through in-depth research and engaging tours, while others contribute through flower arranging, conservation, advisory committees and community events. Together, they help create a welcoming space for worshippers, tourists, schools, refugee communities, local residents and visitors from around the world.
St Andrew URC in Roundhay, Leeds
St Andrew’s Roundhay is supported by a diverse team of volunteers who help run cafés, community groups, worship, pastoral care, fundraising, outreach and the day-to-day management of church life. Among their many activities are the weekly Clocktower Community Café and the Forget-Me-Not Café for people living with dementia and their carers, alongside support for uniformed organisations, social events and community projects. The church’s flagship outreach event is the annual Charity Christmas Tree Festival, which welcomes thousands of visitors for festive displays, live music, family activities and community support, raising funds for local charities. Committed to accessibility and inclusion, the church works to ensure everyone feels welcome, valued and able to participate in community life.
The Long Table and Lunch Club provide regular, welcoming spaces where people can share a nutritious meal, build friendships and find support without judgement. The volunteer team is their heartbeat. Together, these initiatives serve around 3,500 meals each year and welcome people from all walks of life, including those experiencing homelessness, poverty, isolation, addiction, or seeking refuge in the local community. Beyond these programmes, the church serves as a community hub, hosting grassroots organisations, choirs, dance groups and TradFest, celebrating traditional Irish music while creating opportunities for connection, belonging and community participation.
Derg Parish Church in Castlederg, County Tyrone
JOY (Just Older Youth) Luncheon Club was established to tackle loneliness and isolation among older people in this rural community and now welcomes 25 to 30 attendees each week. The club provides opportunities for friendship and connection through entertainment, music, quizzes and freshly prepared three-course lunches, offering a vital social lifeline for many participants. Alongside this work, the church takes part in the annual local school Christmas Fayre, runs a popular Craft Fayre showcasing local makers and craftspeople, and looks forward to expanding its community activities when the new Parish Centre is completed.
St Patrick in Coleraine, County Derry
The historic church and graveyard are an important part of Coleraine’s heritage, welcoming visitors throughout the year and hosting educational tours for schools, heritage events and family history research. The Ground Force Team care for the grounds and graves using sensitive conservation methods, helping to preserve the resting place of many people who shaped the town’s economic, cultural and social history. St Patrick’s also hosts a wide range of community and cultural activities, including annual summer recitals, heritage tours, community concerts, choir performances and visits from bell-ringing groups.
St Bestius in Termonamongan, County Tyrone
Volunteers play a central role in caring for St Bestius church and its grounds, including the churchyard garden dedicated to the hymn writer Mrs CF Alexander, who wrote All Things Bright and Beautiful, There is a Green Hill Far Away and Once in Royal David’s City. They also organise a wide range of community events, including the Annual Friends Service, which reunites former parishioners and local churches each September, as well as concerts, a vintage car run, a flower festival, youth barbecues and a week of prayer. Creative community projects, including a large-scale re-enactment of Jesus’ miracles, have helped bring people of all ages together and strengthen community life.
Croick Church in Ardgay, Sutherland
The Croick Church volunteer team, united by their love for a remote historic church building, a mission to care for it, and a wish for others to share Croick Church’s special qualities now and long into the future, has played a transformative role in bringing this remote historic church back to life following its reopening in 2026. Volunteers now care for the building, carry out regular inspections and maintenance, welcome visitors and ensure the church remains open every day of the year for the local community, worshippers, tourists and those tracing Highland ancestry. Located at the end of a remote glen, Croick Church has been returned to the community as a place of significance, meaning and heritage having been lost to them through closure.
Brechin Cathedral in Bechin, Angus
Brechin Cathedral has been brought back to life through the passion, dedication and vision of a committed team of volunteers who refused to let this remarkable building’s story come to an end. Their efforts have helped secure the cathedral’s future through community ownership and transform it into a welcoming place for heritage, culture, learning and community life. Today, the cathedral hosts heritage tours, concerts, exhibitions, school visits, conservation projects, wellbeing activities and community events, creating opportunities for people to connect with one another and their shared history. Through their care and commitment, volunteers are ensuring that this much-loved landmark.
Corstorphine Old & New Churches in Craigsbank, Edinburgh
Toastie Thursday brings together volunteers from two neighbouring churches every week to provide a warm welcome, affordable lunches and a safe space for local high school students. What began as a simple idea has grown into a much-loved community initiative, serving more than 300 toasties each week and helping young people build friendships, feel valued and take a break from the pressures of the school day. The project has strengthened links between the churches, the school and the wider community, with many students going on to volunteer in other church activities, including toddler groups and lunch clubs for older people.
Kingussie Parish Church in Kingussie, Highlands
Volunteers are at the heart of church and community life across this large rural parish in the Cairngorms National Park, supporting activities that bring people of all ages together and ensure the churches remain welcoming and relevant community spaces. Community cafés provide friendship, companionship and a warm welcome for those who may be experiencing loneliness, while intergenerational activities bring school pupils and older residents together to share skills, conversation and mutual support. Volunteers also support school larders, provide lunches, winter clothing and shoes for pupils, run parent and toddler groups, organise prayer meetings, retreat days, seasonal events and musical performances, and welcome visitors from near and far with hospitality, local knowledge and a strong sense of community spirit.
St Stephen in Bodfari, Denbighshire
With a small and ageing congregation, the church is supported by a dedicated group of volunteers and members of the Village Committee who work together to ensure it remains at the heart of community life in Bodfari. For more than 30 years, the monthly village coffee morning has brought residents together for friendship, conversation and mutual support, providing an important social lifeline in a village without its own meeting place. Volunteers also run a Welcome Pod for walkers and visitors, support the local food bank, organise Remembrance Day commemorations, help with the village fete and duck race, and arrange community activities including concerts and bingo. Their commitment, encouragement and willingness to work together have helped create a warm, welcoming and resilient community.
St Mary in Marshfield, Newport
A dedicated team of volunteers helped transform St Mary’s from a church facing significant challenges into a thriving and growing community. Through their commitment to worship, fundraising, administration, building care, community partnerships and welcoming new people, they provided the foundation for the church’s renewal and future sustainability. Today, St Mary’s is home to a flourishing music programme, including a community choir and youth chorister scheme that has introduced children and families to church life while developing confidence and musical skills. Volunteers also run a growing community gardening group and a varied programme of events, including cinema nights, bingo evenings and community talks, ensuring the church is used and enjoyed by the wider community almost every day of the week.
St James in Dalby, Isle of Man
Best known for the World Bonnag Championships, which celebrate the Manx staple food of soda bread through an evening of Manx supper, entertainment, charity presentations and championship prize-giving, the church also hosts The Star, a candlelit Christmas event featuring Manx language choirs, recitations and carols. In addition, it runs a bunkhouse, village shop, roadside farm shop, Fairtrade initiatives, a Soup Stop and community outreach projects, alongside a packed programme of events including TT Teas, the Community Harvest Supper, Snowdrop Afternoon Teas, the Hollantide Hooley, family workshops, film screenings and collectors’ fayres.
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. Voting has now closed.
A striking Brutalist church with a dominant stained glass cross feature that is the entire height of the building, designed by 20th century Scottish stained glass artist Gordon Webster.
Hear from Barrhead St Andrew:
“Barrhead St Andrew’s is a thriving, all-inclusive community hub welcoming over 500 people weekly across 30 diverse user groups. Our mission is completely intergenerational, providing vital safe spaces for all ages, including 200 young people under 18. Supported by our new Youth and Community Worker, our buildings are busier than ever.
To keep this essential hub open and accessible, we must urgently replace our roof, upgrade rainwater systems, and replace windows. Due to inflation, unforeseen structural repairs, and global economic pressures, project costs have risen from £300,000 to nearly £475,000. Through dedicated fundraising, we have already secured over £450,000. Construction is fully locked in for 2026.”
Set on the slopes of Lambeth Castle, this beautiful single-cell church clings to a hill and has views out to sea and across the Marshwood Vale.
Hear from Fishpond St John the Baptist:
“Fishpond is a small rural village in West Dorset nestled in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Its resident population of 100 swells significantly with visitors who are attracted by its history and the glorious countryside.
St John’s is the only church and community building in the village. All shared village life happens there. It’s a lifeline to the residents, many of whom are vulnerable, isolated or lonely. Events have been difficult as there are no facilities or running water in St John’s. Everything, including the water, has to be carried from people’s homes.
In 2021, Fishpond hosted ‘Open Gardens’ that attracted over 1,000 visitors. Enough was enough! Since then, the villagers have been working hard to make their dream of a kitchen and plumbed-in sink a reality. Unfortunately, the costs have more than doubled leaving a funding gap that has been made worse by the closure of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. We desperately need support to complete our facilities project and bring new life and opportunity to the heart of this village.”
A Wesleyan Grade II Listed church building home to a single unified Methodist and United Reformed Church congregation in the heart of Torpoint.
Hear from Torpoint Cornerstone Church:
“Our Grade II Listed Wesleyan Chapel has a typical balcony and less typical stained glass. The 1795 indenture setting up the building hangs inside. Used seven days a week by the community, it is centrally placed with flat access across the ground floor.
Storm damage to downpipes in January 2022 caused water damage and urgent repairs were carried out. Remaining repairs to windows, downpipes and render currently cost £173,000 incl. The VAT and scaffolding costs make this a challenging amount for our congregation.
Tremendous community support from the Town Council, Lions, HMS Raleigh, local traders and individuals raised £18,500 in a year; this with reserves and grants promised leaves £38,000 more to raise.”
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.
St Cybi Church & Eglwys Y Bedd in Caergybi (Holyhead), Anglesey
Donald Insall Associates and PegwA
St Cybi’s & Eglwys y Bedd form one of Wales’ most remarkable historic church sites, set within the walls of the ancient Roman fort of Caer Gybi. This ambitious project combined sensitive conservation with thoughtful reordering to secure the future of both buildings while improving their use for the local community. The transformation of Eglwys y Bedd into a community café, training kitchen and visitor hub, alongside improvements to accessibility, comfort and interpretation, has created a welcoming and sustainable future for this nationally significant heritage site.
St Bride on Fleet Street, London
ARTArchitects Ltd
The re-roofing of the aisles and extensive stonework repairs at St Bride’s, Fleet Street, have helped safeguard one of London’s most significant historic churches for future generations. Building on earlier work to conserve the spire, the project addressed the wider church fabric through detailed investigation and carefully targeted repairs. The conservation programme has not only protected the building’s long term future but also revealed and celebrated elements of its original architectural design, enhancing appreciation of a church whose heritage has evolved over centuries.
St John the Baptist in Rochdale, Lancashire
Crosby Granger Architects Ltd
St John the Baptist, Rochdale, is an extraordinary Grade II* church, celebrated for its pioneering reinforced-concrete construction, impressive dome and remarkable sanctuary mosaic. Following decades of deterioration caused by water ingress and structural decay, a major conservation programme combined detailed investigation with specialist repair techniques to address complex challenges. The project has safeguarded both the building and its outstanding artistic features, securing the future of a unique and innovative piece of early 20th century church architecture for generations to come.
Sherbourne Abbey in Sherbourne, Dorset
Chantrey Conservation Architects Ltd
The conservation of Sherborne Abbey’s west door and south porch entrances has helped reveal and celebrate some of the building’s finest historic craftsmanship. Through careful cleaning, repair and conservation of stonework and ironwork, the project has enhanced these important entrances while protecting them for the future. The work has improved visitors’ experience of the Abbey and highlighted the architectural detail and artistry that have welcomed worshippers and visitors for generations, ensuring these historic features can continue to be appreciated for years to come.
St Mark Methodist Church in Tottenham, Greater London
Roger Mears Architects
The restoration of St Mark’s has revived a striking Art Deco landmark on Tottenham High Road while preserving the character that makes it unique. Detailed investigation revealed innovative original construction methods, leading the project team to repair rather than replace significant historic fabric. Specialist conservation techniques, combined with new windows, lighting and restored architectural features, have brought the building’s original design back into view. The project has transformed the church’s presence in the local area, turning it into a flagship example of heritage-led regeneration.
The Presidents' Award celebrates the best new church building, including re-ordering, extensions or alterations to existing church buildings.
Aberdeen: Trinity Church
Wilson + Gunn Architects
Trinity Church, Aberdeen, has been transformed through a major programme of conservation and refurbishment that has brought new life to a prominent historic church in the heart of the city. Extensive repairs to the roof, stonework and windows have safeguarded the building’s future, while a comprehensive internal renewal has created flexible, modern spaces for contemporary use. By sensitively adapting underused areas and upgrading facilities throughout, the project has secured a sustainable new role for this important city centre landmark while respecting its historic character.
Aylesbury: Limes Avenue Baptist Church
Thompson Bradford Architects
The transformation of Trinity Methodist, Aylesbury, has created a more accessible, welcoming and flexible space for worship and community use. A carefully designed extension provides a new entrance concourse, kitchen and accessible facilities, while alterations to the existing church have improved meeting rooms, office space and the main worship area. By combining contemporary additions with thoughtful adaptation of the existing building, the project has enhanced the church’s ability to serve its congregation and wider community for years to come.
Belfast: The Catholic Chaplaincy at QUB
Consarc Design Group Ltd.
The Catholic Chaplaincy at Queen’s University Belfast has been revitalised through a thoughtful programme of conservation and extension that balances the preservation of a significant modernist building with the needs of contemporary student life. The project has enhanced accessibility, sustainability and safeguarding, while introducing new student accommodation and community facilities. By carefully protecting the chapel’s distinctive architectural character and its relationship with the wider campus, the scheme has secured a vibrant future for this important place of worship, learning and community.
Gillingham: St Benedict
Philip Hughes Associates
St Benedict’s, Gillingham, has been given a new chapter in its long history through a sensitive programme of liturgical reordering and architectural renewal. Originally built as a Wesleyan chapel in 1877, the building was secured for continued worship when it became home to a growing Roman Catholic congregation. Careful use of traditional materials, craftsmanship and ecclesiastical furnishings has restored a strong sense of focus and purpose to the interior, creating a welcoming and uplifting space for prayer, reflection and community worship.
Portobello: St Mark Episcopal Church
Taft Architects
St Mark’s, Portobello, has been thoughtfully renewed to meet the needs of a modern congregation while respecting nearly 200 years of history. Combining essential fabric repairs with internal alterations and upgraded facilities, the project has improved accessibility, sustainability and flexibility for worship and community activities. Carefully integrated contemporary design sits alongside the historic architecture, ensuring the church remains a welcoming and well-used community asset while supporting its longterm environmental ambitions and future sustainability.
Stebbing: St Mary the Virgin
Hanslip & Company Ltd
The Way Forward Project at Stebbing has sensitively transformed a Grade I listed church to make it more accessible, flexible and welcoming for modern worship and community use. The reordering introduced level access throughout the building, a new heating system, improved lighting and audiovisual facilities, while carefully conserving the historic North Aisle wall painting and incorporating bespoke joinery. By balancing contemporary needs with the protection of significant historic features, the project has secured a sustainable future for this important heritage church while enhancing the experience of all who use it.
The Young Architect or Surveyor of the Year celebrates up and coming talent.
Chloe Sheward, Senior Architect, and Emily Edwards, Architect
Played key roles in the transformation of Eglwys y Bedd, helping secure its future as a community hub. Chloe led the redesign, permissions, project coordination and delivery of a revised scheme that balanced heritage, accessibility and budget constraints. Their work sensitively integrated new facilities and interventions, improving community access while respecting the site's historic and archaeological significance.
Naomi Faulkner, RIBA Conservation Architect
Served as Project Architect for the Way Forward Project, leading the sensitive reordering of a Grade I listed church to improve accessibility, flexibility and sustainability.
William Lloyd-Murphy
Provided professional leadership for the project, overseeing the successful delivery of a complex conservation and renewal scheme.
Edward Eastham, Director and Conservation Architect
Edward led the project from inception to completion, guiding the client through the funding application process, coordinating the design team, and overseeing the repair and refurbishment works. As Contract Administrator, he managed project delivery and carried out regular site inspections to ensure the highest standards of workmanship. Drawing on extensive experience with historic buildings, Edward identified underlying defects and developed effective, long-term solutions to address inadequate details and improve building performance. Throughout the project, he ensured all works were delivered with sensitivity to the building’s heritage, preserving its character while securing its future resilience.
Michael Garber, Director
Served as Project Architect, lead designer and contract administrator, guiding the project from concept through to completion.
