The National Church Awards – the ‘BAFTAs for churches’ – revealed 17 UK churches as winners in a prestigious ceremony held on Monday evening at Mercers’ Hall, London. The awards were co-presented by comedian and actor Hugh Dennis and Canon Ann Easter, former Chaplain to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, with Guest of Honour His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO, Vice Patron of the National Churches Trust.

At the end of the evening, the coveted “Church of The Year” award was announced by HRH The Duke of Gloucester as St Marylebone, London.

Making their way to receive the award on behalf of the church team were The Revd Canon Dr Stephen Evans, Ginny Simmonds (director of heritage and events) and Ashley Nixon (director of development).

ST MARYLEBONE: THE WINNING APPROACH

Chair of the National Churches Trust, Sir Philip Rutnam, led up to that moment with an insight into why the judges made that choice: “As a judging panel we were unanimous in our support for this year’s winner. It epitomises everything that a successful, sustainable and open church should be. This is a church that is working so hard to look after and further develop their building, harnesses the skill and enthusiasm of volunteers, creates a wonderful warm welcome and does simply amazing work with the local community, many of who are struggling. It provides worship, vital services, and is a place that is rooted in its location; available to all. They have an excellent music programme, a really cool arts space and such a breadth of activities that are there for local people and also for visitors. There is a lot here that we can all learn from.”

Historically, St Marylebone is a building of national importance. It is a Grade I listed Regency church in the heart of London, designed by fashionable architect Thomas Hardwick and opened in February 1817. There are several famous people associated with St Marylebone. Charles Dickens and his family lived here and seven of his 10 children were baptised in the font that visitors can still see today. Dickens describes the ceremony in his novel ‘Dombey and Son’. Poets Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning were married at St Marylebone’s altar. Ada Lovelace, the computing pioneer, lived in the parish and Florence Nightingale had a hospital in nearby Harley Street.

As a force for good in the community that lives there today, St Marylebone’s work is outstanding, and this played a key role in their being awarded Church of the Year. For more than 30 years, the church has pioneered the work of Christian healing. It is home to the internationally respected St Marylebone Healing and Counselling Centre and the Crypt also houses an innovative NHS doctor’s surgery. They have close and active links with some of medicine’s Royal Colleges and provide chaplaincy to The London Clinic and King Edward VII’s Hospital.

As part of St Marylebone’s application, the church team provided this detailed description of their achievements:

“We are open every 365 days a year. Sitting at the heart of central London, we are a much-needed central London community resource. We endeavour to create a warm and inviting environment in which all feel welcome and included. We run an extensive music programme including The St Marylebone Festival which offers affordable access to musical and cultural performances. We recently opened an art space in the church crypt which allows artists to exhibit and sell work in central London. We have volunteers for events and throughout the week who welcome visitors and provide a friendly face and information about the church and we also offer weekly historical tours. We have created a museum-style interpretation throughout the church that tells the story of the area and gives our community a sense of place and belonging. We provide lots of learning materials about our history, our services, and our upcoming events. We have also prioritised having clear signage which emphasises that the building is open to all, regardless of beliefs, and invites visitors to explore the many different parts of our building, from the Regency-era nave to the art exhibitions in our Crypt and our museum showcase. We actively collect feedback from our visitors which we use to evaluate our performance.”

St Marylebone also won a Church Tourism award, and was nominated for the Young Architect or Surveyor of the Year for the work of Mary Duckham (BSc MArch ARB)

WATERLOO ST JOHN: THE WINNING APPROACH

The award given to Waterloo’s St John, London, was the Presidents’ Award – given for the best new addition, including re-ordering, extensions or alterations. This was one of three Church Architecture Awards given in partnership with the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association.

Picking up the award on the night on behalf of the church team were Canon Giles Goddard and James McNeill, project architect from Eric Parry Architects.

The project has preserved both the 19th century architecture of Francis Bedford, and 20th century interventions made when the church was restored following wartime bombing and rededication as the official church of the Festival of Britain.

The church entrance has been remodelled, making the nave immediately visible from the street. The nave is a much enhanced worship, event and performance space, with a historically referenced paint scheme. In the crypt, are new spaces for community use. The project also takes major steps to move towards net zero carbon emission by 2030.

In the church’s own words from their submission: “The project has transformed the life and role of St John’s in the wider community, extending its offer and open hand to the city. Where once the building was disconnected from the street and access limited, the building is now opened up, welcoming and accessible for all. The crypt has been transformed from a dark labyrinthian series of spaces to an open place that celebrates community and building history. We are also now recognised as a high quality venue for arts, culture and commercial events, which gives us a sustainable income stream for the future.”

The judges loved the elegant reordering of a fine interior, and the crypt is now warm and welcoming, commenting: “The whole space is very calming.”

ALEX SPICER AND WALTHAMSTOW’S ST MARY THE VIRGIN: THE WINNING APPROACH

The award presented was for the Young Architect or Surveyor of the Year, which celebrates up-and-coming talent and is given to an individual responsible for a scheme, one of three Church Architecture Awards given in partnership with the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association.

The winner was Alex Spicer (Associate Director at Matthew Lloyd Architects) for his work on Walthamstow, St Mary the Virgin, London.

The completed project includes repair and re-ordering of the church and the addition of a modest extension which preserves, enhances, and safeguards a significant historic asset and its setting.

Extensive repairs were carried using appropriate like-for-like materials and traditional skills throughout. A limited material palette of zinc, larch and reconstituted stone reinforces the design approach. Inside the church, layers of ill considered alterations of limited historical significance were carefully removed to unveil the historic essence of the building, before new finely detailed elements were sensitively inserted to house functional areas.

A car park was replaced with a calm forecourt, linking historic pathways through the churchyard with the streets beyond. To increase biodiversity, the forecourt landscaping includes the introduction of several mature trees and planting beds which are populated with pollinator species.

The project has transformed the life of the church. The extension and the cafe space within the building has meant that the church can be open 7 days a week. Hundreds more people visit the exhibition space, attend music events, have coffee in the cafe or simply come to be still. The project has brought the church to life and re-centred it in the heart of Walthamstow.

The judging panel made these comments on the award: “Alex was the architect and lead designer for some tremendous repair and new work at St Mary the Virgin, Walthamstow. As a result, the church has become an open building, a real part of the community. Alex was project architect and lead designer from concept design to handover. The project included repair, re-ordering and adding a striking extension which preserves, enhances, and safeguards this significant historic asset. The project has transformed the life of the church, which is now open every day. The judges were impressed by Alex’s attention to detail; the floor is glorious. They look forward to seeing more of his work in the future.”

St Mary the Virgin, Walthamstow, was also a finalist for the President’s Award.

Other London finalists in the National Church Awards were:

Greenwich, St Alfege, for Church Tourism
London – Greater, Islington, Union Chapel, the Friends award

TAKE PART IN “VISIT YOUR FINALIST DAY” SATURDAY 18 NOVEMBER

And for those wishing to find out more about the London finalists and winners, “Visit Your Finalist Day” has been added to the National Church Awards calendar for the first time this year, to encourage everyone to visit any of the 45 nominated churches close to them. Taking place on Saturday 18 November, the church doors will be unlocked. There’s a wealth of heritage to explore and (in many cases) volunteers on hand with a warm welcome.

Over 200 churches were nominated this year from across the UK, from which a judging panel selected the 45 finalists. Churches were invited to nominate their buildings back in June, for awards in architecture, maintenance, volunteering and tourism. From eco-churches to community cafés, running tower tours to hosting festivals and concerts, the 45 finalists made an impressive and diverse list.

KEY MOMENTS FROM THE CEREMONY

Co-presenter Hugh Dennis opened the ceremony by saying: “Churches have an amazing story to tell. They are some of our most beautiful and historically important places – they literally hold the history of this country. Just as importantly they are there day-in day-out, providing vital help to local people and communities and available whenever they are needed. But they need help. With the future of many uncertain and under threat, there has never been a more important time to celebrate the UK’s churches and their importance. The nominations this year have been fantastic. All offer wonderful community support, open up their buildings and become places of pilgrimage and tourism alongside their role as places of Christian worship. We’ve seen old buildings steeped in heritage and new buildings designed for modern use.”

Co-presenter Canon Ann Easter added to this with her opening remarks: “It’s an enormous privilege to be talking about some of the wonderful churches that bless communities across the UK. They are also just a place to be. To take time, sit quietly, say a prayer, and re-set for what’s next in your life. Churches seem to offer it all. So the National Churches Trust has decided it is high time that volunteers and churches were rewarded and we’ve seen over the last year how they have provided ‘warm spaces’ for those struggling with energy prices, foodbanks for people in need and space for national events of both remembrance and celebration.”

The Mercers’ Hall saw 95 people gather for the awards in London, but a further 160 livestreams took place via YouTube across the UK, with many church groups organising parties to watch the ceremony together.

During the ceremony, the people caring for the 17 winning churches came forward to pick up their awards, representing buildings of all sizes and ages, with locations that included rural villages, national parks, towns and cities. Winners came from all four nations too, including nine in England, three in Northern Ireland, two in Scotland and three in Wales.
ALL 17 WINNERS REVEALED
Note to editors, Full Descriptions of all Awards and Winners are provided in a Word Document in the press pack that can be viewed or downloaded with this link
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wkFFHdGPt2sTYbscvjVTRyLCoFUSP25B/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=105802742005194114725&rtpof=true&sd=true

Church of the Year

St Marylebone, Marylebone, London.

King of Prussia Gold Medal – celebrates innovative, high-quality conservation or repairs.

Winner: Saltaire United Reformed Church, West Yorkshire

The Presidents’ Award – given for the best new addition, including re-ordering, extensions or alterations.

Winner: St John, Waterloo, London

Young Architect or Surveyor of the Year – Celebrates up-and-coming talent and is given to an individual responsible for a scheme.

Winner: Alex Spicer, Associate Director at Matthew Lloyd Architects. St Mary the Virgin, Walthamstow, London.

Nayler Awards for Excellence in Church Maintenance.

Overall winner: Llangunnor Parish Church, Carmarthenshire

Winner in England: St Michael & All Angels, Bishop’s Cleeve, Gloucestershire
Winner in Wales: Llangunnor Parish Church, Carmarthenshire
Winner in Scotland: St Anne, Dunbar, East Lothian
Winner in Northern Ireland: St Mary’s Altinure, County Derry

Church and Community Volunteer Awards in partnership with the Marsh Charitable Trust.

Overall Winner: St Hilda, Redcar, North Yorkshire

Winner in England: St Hilda, Redcar, North Yorkshire
Winner in Wales: Holy Trinity, Trefnant, Denbighshire
Winner in Scotland: St James the Great, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire
Winner in Northern Ireland: Christ Church, Derry/Londonderry

Tourism: Open for Visitors Awards

Overall Winner: Providence Chapel, Throwleigh, Devon

Winner in England: St Marylebone, London
Winner in England: Providence Methodist Chapel, Throwleigh, Devon
Winner in Wales: St Peter, Llanbedr Dyffryn, Denbighshire
Winner in Northern Ireland: Church of the Immaculate Conception, Strabane, County Tyrone

The Friends Award

This special award gives Friends (members) of the National Churches Trust the opportunity to help the charity select a church they have recently funded to receive an additional grant of £10,000. Churches in this award make a short film and Friends vote for their favourite.

Winner: St Mary, South Stoneham, Hampshire.

Now in their second year, the awards are organised by the National Churches Trust in partnership with the Pilgrim Trust, Marsh Charitable Trust and the Ecclesiastical Architects & Surveyors Association.

And there are already signs of a lasting effect. The audience last night heard an update on last year’s winner – St Macartan’s, Augher, a small rural chapel in Northern Ireland — from Sir Philip Rutnam, where he explained that the church “has done wonderful things in the intervening 12 months and the publicity and support they have received as a result of the award has helped kick start their success.”

In a touching moment at the ceremony’s close, the St Marylebone, Church of the Year winners, were handed a card by the previous winners, St Macartans, to congratulate them, a sign that these relatively new awards could forge relationships between churches that are very different, on many levels and geographically far apart.

Claire Walker, chief executive of the National Churches Trust, explained why the awards matter so much to her:
“Through our research, we know that churches contribute £55 billion towards economic and social good each year and reading through the submissions, it was clear that churches are active across the UK in using their buildings to bring communities together and to help them to thrive. The finalists and winners in the National Church Awards show the innovative ways that churches can use their buildings to the benefit of all. All are shining examples of churches being open and welcoming and making a significant difference in their local communities. I hope people will celebrate all 45 finalists and take part in Visit Your Finalist Day on Saturday 18 November”

All finalists are listed on the National Churches Trust website at https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/impact/awards/finalists2023