Royal search for UK's best new church architecture

HRH The Duke of Gloucester at the chuch of St John of Jerusalem in Hackney with Revd Andrew Wilson

HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO is to help select the UK's best new church architecture for two prestigious design awards being run by the National Churches Trust and the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association.

New church buildings can be entered for The Presidents' Award. The Presidents' Award is awarded on behalf of the National Churches Trust's Joint Presidents, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association (EASA) President. The winning church or chapel will receive a £500 prize.

Innovative church conservation or repair work can be entered for The King of Prussia's Gold Medal. The architects responsible for the winning project will receive the prestigious King of Prussia Gold Medal. The Gold Medal was the gift of King Freidrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia in 1857 who was highly impressed with British Victorian church architecture. The winning church or chapel will receive a £500 prize.

This year, HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO, who is a Vice-Patron of the National Churches Trust, will be a special guest judge for the 2015 Presidents' Award and the King of Prussia Gold Medal.

The deadline for submitting projects is 31st August 2015. From the entries, a shortlist will be announced in September and winners will be revealed at a special awards ceremony held at Westminster Cathedral Hall on 5th November 2015.

Nominations for the two design awards, which are open to projects at churches and chapels of any denomination in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, can be made by architects, chartered surveyors, churches and chapels and anyone else with a passion for great church architecture. Submitting a nomination can be done online by competing a simple form at www.nationalchurchestrust.org/architectureawards

Claire Walker, Chief Executive, National Churches Trust said: "These awards are a chance to celebrate the work of architects creating new church buildings and safeguarding the UK's church heritage. For the Presidents' Award we're looking for high quality and innovative contemporary design. For the King of Prussia Gold Medal we're looking for the best in conservation and repair architecture. This year, we're tremendously honoured that HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO has graciously agreed to be a special guest judge for the awards and look forward to benefiting from his architectural expertise in choosing the winners."

Simon Dyson, Vice- President of the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association said: "The awards celebrate the best examples of building works being undertaken in the ecclesiastical context, be it a historic or a new church building. They are an opportunity to present the best examples of church work to parishes, architects and surveyors, in the promotion of good design and practice, and are exemplars to aspire to."

"The Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association is delighted and honoured to have the support of HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO helping to judge the best examples of church architecture for this year's awards."

2014 Winners

The 2014 Presidents' Award was awarded to Evans Vettori Architects for the new hall at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Derby.

In 2014 The King of Prussia Gold Medal for innovative, high quality church conservation or repair work was won by Beech Tyldesley Architects for their repairs to the tower of St Michael's Church, Othery, Somerset.

Read more about the awards here: www.nationalchurchestrust.org/how-we-help/2015-architecture-awards