National Church Awards

The Church of the Year is a shining example of a church, chapel or meeting house which is open, available to all and supported by the local community. It should meet the needs of this community and be welcoming to those visiting from near and far. 

The Church of the Year 2022 is St Macartan (The Forth Chapel), Augher, County Tyrone in Northern Ireland.  

This beautiful church, located in the heart of the Clogher Valley, dates from 1838 – 1846 and was once the cathedral of the Roman Catholic diocese of Clogher. The church is famous for its gorgeous Clarke Studio stained glass windows, installed in 1922. These have recently been restored as part of a major heritage project led by Martin McKenna.  

The judges singled out the church for the strength of its approach to looking after the building, its involvement of local people as volunteers and the way that St Macartan’s is promoted as part of the heritage of County Tyrone.  

They were impressed at how the recent restoration project proved to be a catalyst for the church, creating a real sense of vibrancy with lots of people becoming involved in many aspects of church life.  

They said: “There’s a sense of bringing everyone together to share in the activity. It’s wonderful to see an ecumenical project which demonstrates that leadership is a real linchpin to success. So often clergy think that the gutters have nothing to do with their vocation but it’s great to see their involvement here.”

The church received the highly coveted Church of the Year Award.

It also won the Northern Ireland category in the Naylor Awards for Excellence in Church Maintenance and a cash prize of £2,500.

These awards shine a light on the people who look after local churches and help ensure a future for their place of worship. Maintenance is traditionally seen as a routine task and is an activity that is celebrated or rewarded. But throughout the year, it is thanks to volunteers that church buildings are kept in good condition and serious problems kept at bay. Helping with maintenance is always rewarding and is also often fun.

OVERALL NATIONAL WINNER AND COUNTRY WINNER FOR ENGLAND 

St George’s church, Kidderminster, Worcestershire -   Grade I Listed 

The overall winner of the 2022 Nayler Award for Excellence in Church Maintenance, run in partnership with the Pilgrim Trust, is St George’s church in Kidderminster. 

A large sandstone church built in 1824,  the interior of the church was completely destroyed by fire in 1922 and restored by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. 

The church has an active maintenance team and has developed an app for use on mobile phones to help carry out surveys of the building. 

Judges praised the way the team dealt with looking after rainwater goods, their excellent record keeping  and the sharing of maintenance knowledge with other local churches.  An added benefit of looking after the church is that several close friendships have developed at the church through working together on maintenance. 

The church was also the Country Winner for England and receives a prize of £5,000. 

COUNTRY WINNER FOR WALES 

St Deniol & St Macella, Marchiel, Wrexham, Wales - Grade II Listed 

The country winner for Wales in the 2022 Nayler Award for Excellence in Church Maintenance, run in partnership with the Pilgrim Trust, is St Deniol & St Macella, Marchiel, Wrexham, Wales. 

The church dates from the 18th century in a style inspired by Sir Christopher Wren. 

The church works on the basis that 'a stich in time saves nine'.  The maintenance team of volunteers strives to keep on top of maintenance issues to prevent major damage occurring, thereby minimising costly repairs. Besides looking after the building, maintenance work extends to the churchyard which requires substantial work to keep it looking tip-top. 

Judges highlighted the fact that the church carried out regular maintenance of the building, was pro-active in spotting potential problems and that the volunteers involved were willing to learn from other churches dealing with similar issues.  

The church receives a prize of £2,500.

COUNTRY WINNER FOR SCOTLAND 

Bishopton Parish Church, Bishopton, Renfrewshire, Scotland -  Grade A Listed 

Bishopton grew from a community around the estate of the Earls of Mar in Erskine and there has been a church in the area since the 12th Century.  The current building was constructed in 1814/15 and is one of the earliest examples of neo-Gothic style in  Britain. 

The church makes excellent use of computerised systems for its maintenance plans, risk assessments and work instructions. Care of the building is led by the Property Committee which carries out some tasks itself and organises the work of contractors. 

Judges praised the church for having in place a extensive plan to look after a complex building which they managed to keep going during the Covid-19 period. They also highlighted the good balance between volunteers and contractors and a good matching of tasks to the skills of volunteers. 

The church receives a prize of £2,500.

COUNTRY WINNER FOR NORTHERN IRELAND 

St Macartan, Augher, Northern Ireland -  Grade B+ Listed 

St Macartan is a large Roman Catholic chapel built between 1838 - 1846. The church is famous for its gorgeous Clarke Studio stained glass windows, installed in 1922, and which have recently been restored as part of a major heritage project, led by Martin McKenna.  

Maintenance work is organised on a monthly basis and is managed by the parish priest and the parish committee with a conservation architect acting as an advisor on any major problems with the building.  The maintenance group have been looking after the church for over 12 years and have great pride in their work. 

The team are not afraid to take on large tasks and in recent years have installed a new boiler and heating system, rewired the vestry and put down a new floor. 

Judges particularly liked the partnership between the volunteers, who look after the church on a daily basis, and heritage professionals. They also highlighted the sense of vibrancy in the church with many people giving their time freely to keep the church in good condition. 

The church receives a prize of £2,500.

OPEN FOR VISITORS AWARD (CHURCH TOURISM) 

This award recognises the positive impact being open and welcoming has on churches. 

Churches should be open and welcoming for visitors to explore. Every church can give a warm welcome and has a story to tell. Millions of people visit churches every year; whether popping in on a day trip or as part of a walk, attending a wedding, or as a church crawler or heritage explorer. 

OVERALL NATIONAL WINNER AND COUNTRY WINNER FOR ENGLAND 

St John the Baptist church, Scampton, Lincolnshire - Grade II* Listed 

The overall winner of the 2022 Open for Visitors Award, celebrating a warm welcome and wonderful interpretation, was won by the church and war graves heritage centre at St John the Baptist church, Scampton in Lincolnshire. 

St John the Baptist church dates from the 14h Century and had a major restoration in the Victorian period.  In the 20th Century an RAF chapel was created in memory of fallen servicemen and other personnel from RAF Scampton. It sits just one mile from RAF Scampton where the Dambusters Squadron was formed. 

The churchyard contains 107 Commonwealth War and Service Graves. The church is open daily and works closely with other partners on the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Trail to attract local and international visitors. It currently has around 1,000 visitors a year, but these numbers are expected to increase substantially after the completion of a restoration project 

Judges were excited about the passionate way that Scampton church maintains Lincolnshire’s aviation heritage. They highlighted the fact that to attract visitors, the church works closely with other local tourist attractions and food and drink outlets to help create a whole day out for visitors. 

The church is also the Country Winner for England in the Awards. It receives a prize of £1,000.

COUNTRY WINNER FOR WALES 

St Saeran, Llanynys, Wales, Denbighshire -  Grade I Listed 

The present church is very ancient and dates back to the 11th century. Located in a remote area, it is surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside in Wales with many walking routes nearby. The church is open day and night for 365 days of the year and holds three annual public pilgrimages.  

The church is proud of the idea that ‘church’ does not just have to be about Sunday.  Through the development of pilgrimages and a music festival it sees itself as the attraction that brings visitors to the local area.  It does this partly through the promotion of faith tourism on its website and on social media. 

Judges praised the ethos of the church and the ideas it has developed which offer visitors something unique. They highlighted the fact that the church is open every day of the year and loved its description: 'If we are not open, how could people come in'. 

The church receives a prize of £500.

COUNTRY WINNER FOR SCOTLAND 

St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Scotland  - Grade A Listed 

St Magnus Cathedral, known as the ‘Light in the North’ was founded in 1137 by the Viking, Earl Rognvald, in honour of his uncle St Magnus who was martyred here in Orkney. It belongs to the people of Orkney and has done so since it was gifted to them in 1846 by King James III of Scots. 

It was a major site of pilgrimage in the middle ages and is now the end point of the St Magnus Way a new pilgrimage routes developed in 2017. 

It has regular, all day opening, thereby maximising the opportunity for visitors to cone through the doors. One of the most poignant tasks undertaken by the Visitor Services team is to show people their relatives names in the Book of Remembrance for HMS Royal Oak, torpedoed and sunk in Scapa Flow.  The pages are turned every Monday so that all names are seen equally - an act of commemoration even if there is no-one to see it. 

Judges praised St Magnus Cathedral’s organised and professional approach to tourism and the brilliant way it showcases its history and architecture. 

The church receives a prize of £500.

THE PRESIDENTS’ AWARD – BATH ABBEY 

The Presidents’ Award for new church architecture and re-orderings was won by a major project at Bath Abbey by architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. 

Judges praised the project as being innovative, sensitive and elegant. 

Bath Abbey has been the centre for Christian faith in the UNESCO City of Bath for more than 1,300 years.  The Footprint Project ensures that it remains so for future generations, through repair and conservation work and much-needed new facilities.  

Within the Abbey, the main focus was the repair and conservation of the historic stone floor, which has more memorials than any other church or cathedral in the UK. The works have revealed the magnificent floor and all the 891 carved memorial stones for the first time in 150 years. 

A new scheme of energy efficient LED lighting has been undertaken throughout the Abbey interior. This reduces energy consumption and allows the refined and unique interior of Bath Abbey to be fully appreciated. The building’s 100-year-old heating system was also starting to fail and the Abbey had the unique opportunity to make use of the Bath hot springs as a low carbon heat source.  

Beneath the Abbey, in the Grade I listed pavement vaults and in the adjacent Grade II listed Georgian terrace, spaces have been reorganised and new spaces created, to suit the future needs of the Abbey.  

The Presidents’ Award, an historic silver Chalice and Paten, will be lent to Bath Abbey for a year and it also receives a £500 prize.

THE KING OF PRUSSIA GOLD MEDAL - ST MARY & ST MELOR, AMESBURY, WILTSHIRE 

The King of Prussia Gold Medal for Conservation Architecture was won by St Ann’s Gate Architecture for a ‘race against time’ project to repair the roof of St Mary & St Melor in Amesbury, Wiltshire.  

After prolonged water ingress, the central truss above the nave was given just 6 months until structural collapse prior to the start of the repair work. 

As such, the project had to proceed quickly, which required quick-thinking, dedication and efficiency from the design and client teams. There were significant structural challenges, caused by there being not just one but two roof structures (15th and early 20th century) as well as timber decay throughout all areas. 

The repair solutions retained as much of the historic fabric as possible, introduced stainless steel, timber, mortar and weakened resin repairs to consolidate and 'work with' the existing structure.  

One really special feature was that as part of the re-instatement of 'lost' carvings throughout the roof interior by 16 oak 'paterae', (a circular decoration) including one in the shape of a bee, designed by the architect and beautifully carved by John Adamson.  

The roof is now structurally sound and watertight; enabling the church to re-open fully after the pandemic. The success of the project and improvements to the interior of the church have sparked further plans to improve the building to be fit for the 21st century.  

The architects received the king of Prussia Gold Medal, the gift of King Frederick William IV of Prussia  to the Incorporated Church Building Society in 1857,  and the church a prize of £500. 

YOUNG CHURCH ARCHITECT OF SURVEYOR OF THE YEAR 

Emma Mullen, inspecting architect to St Mary & St Melor church was named as The Young Church Architect and Surveyor of the Year. She received a prize of £250, sponsored by Ecclesiastical Insurance.  

The Church Architecture Awards are a partnership between the National Churches Trust and the Ecclesiastical Architects & Surveyors Association.

OVERALL NATIONAL WINNER AND COUNTRY WINNER FOR WALES

The Outpost – Siop y Pentref – run by St Paul’s church in Rhosesmor, Flintshire, Wales  -  Grade II Listed 

The overall winner of the Church & Community Volunteer Award, run in Partnership with the Marsh Charitable Trust, was The Outpost – Siop y Pentref – run by St Paul’s church in Rhosesmor, Flintshire, Wales. 

With the nearest shop three miles away, St Paul’s church is home to a community shop which has put the church as the heart of village life once again. 37 volunteers have become a mutually supportive community, where ideas thrive. The shop has grown into a lively village centre which runs a book club, a jigsaw and a veg and plant swap and even an annual scarecrow competition. Most recently it has been helping Ukrainian refugees. 

What stood out for the judges was the way that volunteers had responded to the specific needs of the area and the way that the church has harnessed the generosity of spirit of a large number people in a small village. 

The church is also the Country Winner for Wales. It receives a prize of £1,500. 

COUNTRY WINNER FOR ENGLAND 

St Peter’s church and the Hub, Peterchurch, Herefordshire  -  Grade I Listed 

The Hub is a rural community development project based at St Peter’s church in Peterchurch, in the heart of Herefordshire’s Golden Valley.  Run by a friendly group of like-minded individuals, it is helping to build a strong, resilient and sustainable local community.  

The Hub seeks to provide the residents of the Golden Valley with a place to meet and socialise.  It offers volunteering and training opportunities for local people, as well as wellbeing support and signposting to local services.  Its café serves wholesome and affordable food. 

Volunteers bake cakes, make soup, serve in the Café, help in the Library, make befriending telephone calls or run errands for people via a Community Helpline. 

Judges especially noted the fact that The Hub includes people from the wider local community, and not just from St Peter's church.  The volunteers have created activities of real value and are adding new services to widen use based on the desire to welcome all and create a stronger local community for all. 

St Peter's church receives a prize of £750.

COUNTRY WINNER FOR SCOTLAND 

St Gregory’s church foodbank, Wyndford, Glasgow - Unlisted 

The church started out in a wooden hut in 1965 and then moved to a new building in the centre of the Wyndford Estate in 1971. Wyndord is one of the most deprived areas of Glasgow. 

Over recent years, a team of over 20 volunteers have built up one of the busiest food banks in Glasgow. Although based in a Roman Catholic church, the volunteers come from many churches in the area and others with no faith connections. 

The food bank was set up in 2017 and now serves more than 300 people a week. Volunteering for the food bank provides an opportunity for local people to get to know one another and gain new skills and confidence. As a result some have been able to get new jobs and progress in their lives. 

Judges noted that the project responds to a real need in the community and has responded to new challenges such as starting a breakfast club. They were also impressed by ecumenical collaboration. 

St Gregory's church receives a prize of £750.

COUNTRY WINNER FOR NORTHERN IRELAND 

Living History in the Community at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Strabane, County Tyrone Northern Ireland -  B+ Listed 

The Church of the Immaculate Conception was designed on a massive scale in 1895 to the designs of architect William Hague and feels more like a cathedral than a parish church.  

Volunteers play major role in the life of the church and are particularly involved in the Community Heritage programme delivered as part of a recent restoration project, They range in age from teenagers to pensioners, bringing there elder and younger generations together.   

One of the star activities has been the creation of a museum exhibition space in the church the displays a rich collection of heritage items. 

Judges really liked the way in which volunteers were able to work with heritage to connect the church with the wider community.  This provided a wide range of opportunities for volunteers who were also able to benefit from detailed skills training. 

The Church of the Immaculate Conception church receives a prize of £750