A stunning new church building in the North of England has won a prestigious award for its unusual architecture and design.
Stanbrook Abbey Church, built for Benedictine nuns of the Conventus of Our Lady of Consolation, sits on a remote edge of the North York Moors.
Surrounded by open fields and trees, it boasts a soaring curved facade far removed from a conventional church building.
Designed by architects Feilden Clegg and Bradley Studios, it was announced today that Stanbrook Abbey had won the 2016 Presidents' Award for new church buildings. The achievement is awarded on behalf of the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association President and the National Churches Trust's Joint Presidents, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.
The nuns previously lived in a 19th century abbey in Worcestershire. Their new church, which is the most recent addition to Stanbrook Abbey, "provides the focus of the mission for the community of nuns who devote their lives to study, work and prayer", the National Churches Trust said.
The judges praised the church as "one of the best church buildings of recent times".
"Of note are its setting, tranquillity, feel of faith and its gorgeous position," they added. "The placing of the elements is spare in a very Benedictine tradition. Light spills in from the south side through huge fins which support the stepped timber roof. The light effect is beautiful, as is the artificial lighting. It will do you good to visit!"
Other awards were won by a project to extend and provide new facilities for the parish church of St Mary and St Thomas of Canterbury in Wymondham, Norfolk, and the restoration of St James' church in New Brighton.
Luke March, chairman of the National Churches Trust, said: "The National Churches Trust exists to support churches, chapels and meeting houses so that they remain at the heart of the communities for which they were built and can continue to play an integral part in all our lives.
"In this, the work of architects and surveyors is so important, and that's why we are delighted to work with the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association in holding the annual Church Architecture Awards."
