East London church wins architecture competition

The National Churches Trust has unveiled the UK's 10 best modern churches.

Topping the list was St Paul's Church in Bow Common, east London, a church known locally as 'The Gate of Heaven'.

The architecture competition was organised by the National Churches Trust in association with the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association and the 20th Century Society.

It sought to judge the best sacred spaces built in the last 60 years to tie in with the 60th anniversary of the National Churches Trust.

Luke March, chairman of the National Churches Trust, said: "As a nation we are rightly proud of our magnificent heritage of historic churches. But there are also many exciting churches which have been built in the last 60 years designed for the changing nature of religious liturgy and practice and reflecting modern architecture and design."

The top 10 were whittled down from over 200 entries from around the UK.

St Paul's Bow was followed by St Mary's RC Church in Lancashire in second place and St Bride's RC Church in East Kilbride taking the bronze award.