Eglwys Sant Pedr yn derbyn gwobr genedlaethol

NATIONAL CHURCH AWARD WINNERS REVEALED CEREMONY IN LONDON

• The ‘BAFTAs for Churches’ reveals 17 winners among 45 finalists, 2 Scottish Winners (4 Finalists).
• St Peter, Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwyd, Denbighshire wins Wales’ Tourism: Open for Visitors Awards
• All four nations represented: nine in England, three in Northern Ireland, two in Scotland and three in Wales
• “Visit Your Finalists Day” (Saturday, November 18) extends the awards with a tourism experience for heritage enthusiasts
• Summary List and Long List of all winners included in press pack

• On Featured image:_

  LEFT TO RIGHT: Hugh Dennis (comedian), Gwenda Williams (St Peter, Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwyd), Canon Ann Easter, Tad Huw Bryant, Sarah Stewart (Trustee of the National Churches Trust), Myron Lloyd (St Peter-Dyffryn-Clwyd), Sandra Lynes-Timbrell (Director of Visitor Engagement at St Paul’s Cathedral).

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. 

ST PETER, LLANBEDR-DYFFRYN-CLWYD:

THE WINNING APPROACH

The award given to St Peter, Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwyd, Denbighshire was the Tourism: Open for Visitors Awards. The church won in the Wales category.

Picking up the award on the night on behalf of the church team were Tad Huw Bryant, Myron Lloyd, and Gwenda Williams.

The judges loved the sense of warmth and love in the application. They said ‘being open is a state of mind’ – what could be better than that?

The new St Peter’s was built in 1862 since the old mediaeval church on the hill overlooking the vale became a ruin.

The church’s own award submission explained their attitude in detail: “Being open is more than just having the door unlocked. Being open is a state of mind, a way of being, a theology and the heart of the gospel we proclaim. Strangely it took being locked during the pandemic for us to discover this … and now we could never close the door again. The church is never closed, the door is always open and fresh coffee and cakes available whenever you like. The churchyard is managed for wildflowers with secluded spaces, plenty of seating and even a lavender planted labyrinth. Inside we’ve recently re-ordered, the open space also gives an opportunity to sit and enjoy the light dancing across the floor through the stunning stained glass. A highlight for us has been putting on Eco-Fest. A weekend festival highlighting our journey, discovering the importance of hospitality through care for creation. We have so many visitors that have no faith but for whom the beauty of the architecture and stained glass windows is a soothing balm for that which their soul yearned. Some have discovered faith and joined, others are on a journey but volunteer. There are very few people who we do not see again … it is a joy beyond words to walk beside and see them blossom.”

Other Welsh churches honoured with awards were:

• Carmarthenshire, Llangunnor, Parish Church, Nayler Awards for Excellence in Church Maintenance.
• Denbighshire, Trefnant, Holy Trinity, for Church and Community Volunteer Awards in partnership with the Marsh Charitable Trust.

Also honoured in Wales were four further finalists:

• Anglesey, Llanbadrig, St Patrick, for Church Tourism
• Ceredigion, Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, St Michael, for Church Tourism
• Conwy, Llannefydd, St Nefydd & St Mary, for Church Tourism
• Wrexham County Borough, Wrexham, Bethel Garden Village, for Church Volunteer

Gareth Simpson, Support Officer for Wales/Cymru for the National Churches Trust, said:

“I was delighted to see seven churches from Wales listed among the finalists. What a brilliant testimony to how churches in Wales are opening their doors to visitors and supporting their local communities. Congratulations to the three Welsh churches who are now revealed as among the winners: Llangunnor Parish Church, in Carmarthenshire, on their Maintenance award (gaining Overall Winner in this category too), and our two Denbighshire winners: St Peter in Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd (for their Tourism award) and Holy Trinity in Trefnant (for their Volunteer award). I hope people will celebrate all the Welsh finalists and take part in Visit Your Finalist Day – Sat 18 November.”

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

And for those wishing to find out more about the finalists and winners in Wales, “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.

Full information and a pin map can be found at: https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/visit-your-finalist-day-2023

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

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

About the National Churches Trust: National Churches Trust works in partnership with churches across the UK to keep them open and in use. Whether seeking quiet reflection, access to critical community services, a warm welcome, a place to worship, or a space to explore, we believe churches should be loved and supported, and available to all. Working together with churches across all four nations, we help to maintain these wonderful historic buildings and keep them thriving today, and tomorrow.

About the awards: The National Church Awards brings together churches across the UK to celebrate church buildings and the amazing ways that churches enrich their local communities. The National Church Awards is organised by the National Churches Trust in partnership with the Pilgrim Trust, Marsh Charitable Trust and the Ecclesiastical Architects & Surveyors Association.