National Church Awards 2022 : Our winners!
We are thrilled to share the winners of the first National Church Awards
For the first time, we brought all our awards schemes together into one nominations process and one event. Winners were invited to a sparkling high tea at Mercers' Hall in the City of London on 24th October 2022.
We are hugely grateful to our wonderful hosts Hugh Dennis and Canon Ann Easter, who led us through the announcements with warmth and brilliant humour.
We are also grateful to the Pilgrim Trust, Marsh Charitable Trust and the Ecclesiastical Architects & Surveyors Association who have partnered with us and to the Mercers’ Company who generously gave us such a magnificent venue and delicious tea.
The nominations have been fantastic. The judges worked through almost 200 entries from churches across the whole of the UK. There were entries from small rural churches in the middle of nowhere, providing vital community support; big city centre churches who have opened up their buildings and become places of pilgrimage and tourism alongside their Christian worship.
We’ve seen old buildings steeped in heritage and new buildings designed for modern use. There have been churches, chapels and meeting houses of all different sizes, styles and traditions, all showing that they do amazing things.
Churches are amazing places whether you are seeking a space for quiet reflection, access to critical community services, a warm welcome, a place to worship, or a space to explore open mouthed, churches are places to be loved and supported.
Congratulations to all our winners, as well as everyone who strives to help their local church to be the star of their community.
Read our news story, with quotes and information about each of the winners here
MikeSwift
Our award winners
A gallery of all the award presentations, in the order they were given at the event.
Church maintenance awards
The Nayler Awards for Excellence in Church Maintenance are run in partnership with the Pilgrim Trust. They shine a light on the people who look after local churches.
The awards were presented by Sue Bowers, Director of the Pilgrim Trust and Shirley Adams, Trustee of the National Churches Trust.
The winners are
- Winner for England is St George, Kidderminster
- Winner for Wales is St Deiniol & St Marcella, Marchwiel
- Winner for Scotland is Bishopton Parish Church
- Winner for Northern Ireland is St Macartan (The Forth Chapel), Augher
Overall winner of the Nayler Awards for Excellence in Church Maintenance is St George Kidderminster
Church architecture awards
The church architecture awards are run in partnership with the Ecclesiastical Architects & Surveyors Association (EASA). They honour excellence and creativity in church architecture. There are three awards.
The awards were presneted by Andrew Wood, President of EASA, and Luke March, Vice President of the National Churches Trust.
The winners are
- Winner of the King of Prussia Gold Medal is St Ann's Gate Architects with St Mary & St Melor, Amesbury
- Winner of the Presidents' Award is Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios with Bath Abbey
- Winner of the Young Architect or Surveyor of the Year is Emma Mullen of St Ann's Gate Architects
Friends vote 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. You can join as a Friend of the National Churches Trust by clicking the button at the top of this page.
The award was presented by Henry Stanford, Trustree of the National Churches Trust.
The winner is
- All Saints, Wilby
Church tourism awards
We believe that 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.
The awards were presented by Sandra Lynes-Timbrell, Director of Visitor Experience at St Paul's Cathedral, and Sarah Stewart, Trustee of the National Churches Trust.
The winners are
- Winner for England is St John the Baptist, Scampton
- Winner for Wales is St Saeran, Llanynys
- Winner for Scotland is St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney
Overall winner of the Open for Visitors Awards Awards is St John the Baptist, Scampton
Church volunteer awards
The Church & Community Volunteer Awards are run in partnership with the Marsh Charitable Trust. These awards celebrate the vital contribution which volunteers make to both looking after and making best use of churches to benefit local communities and people.
The awards were presented by Charles Micklewright, Trustee of the Marsh Charitable Trust, and Donna McDonald, Trustee of the National Churches Trust.
The winners are
- Winner for England is The Hub at St Peter's, Peterchurch
- Winner for Wales is The Outpost at St Paul's, Rhosesmor
- Winner for Scotland is St Gregory's Foodbank, Glasgow
- Winner for Northern Ireland is Church of the Immaculate Conception, Strabane
Overall winner of the Church & Community Volunteer Awards is The Outpost at St Paul's, Rhosesmor
The church said: It was amazing to hear the judges talk about the friendships and warmth that came through our application. They got it. They got that it’s not about profits or sales, but the friendly faces and open door if anyone needs a pint of milk or just a chat. Our whole ethos is community; the community we serve and the community of volunteers we’ve built.
Church of the year
This is the award that takes into account all the previous awards. It aims to recognise a church which has great maintenance to keep it in use, has a fantastic volunteer force to ensure that it can meet the needs of the local community, and offers a fantastic welcome as part of its mission to local people and visitors from further afield.
The award was presented by Xenia Dennen from the Mercers' Company and Sir Philip Rutnam, Chairman of the National Churches Trust.
And the winner is
St Macartan (The Forth Chapel), Augher in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
MikeSwift