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.

News
Fire severely damages historic Amsterdam church on New Year’s Day
Fire severely damages historic Amsterdam church on New Year’s Day

A major fire tore through one of Amsterdam’s best-known historic buildings in the early hours of New Year’s Day, seriously damaging the property and forcing people to leave nearby homes.

Rwanda’s president on the defensive over church closures
Rwanda’s president on the defensive over church closures

Rwandan President Paul Kagame defended the government's forced closure of Evangelical churches, accusing them of being a “den of bandits” led by deceptive relics of colonialism. 

We are the story still being written
We are the story still being written

The story of Christ continues in the lives of those who take up His calling.

Christians harassed, attacked all over India at Christmas
Christians harassed, attacked all over India at Christmas

International Christian Concern reported more than 80 incidents in India, some of them violent, over Christmas.