St Peter's Church, Knowstone was recognised for the sensitive repairs of rood loft stairs, discovered nearly 500 years after they were covered up, and careful conservation of layers of historic wall paintings, also hidden under plaster. The stairs would originally have led to a rood screen, a partition intended to separate the clergy from the congregation. Wall paintings were found to date from the late-medieval period to the 18th century.
John Betjeman Award
John Betjeman Award
The John Betjeman Award celebrates the repair and conservation of places of worship.
It is named in honour of writer, architectural historian and conservation campaigner John Betjeman, who was a member of the SPAB Committee for over two decades, from 1954 to 1977.
The Award is given in recognition of a single scheme of repair or conservation, rather than one that involves general works, extension, re-ordering. Take a look at our previous shortlist and winners to find out more.
Submit your entries or nominations by Wednesday 14 August 2024. Any questions? Email awards@spab.org.uk.
What are we looking for?
- Sensitive, high-quality, honest and appropriate repairs to the fabric, fittings or furnishings of places of worship, e.g. roofs, towers, walls, floors, windows, screens, monuments or seating
- Reasoned arguments for carrying out these repairs, including
- A statement of need
- Analysis of the problems
- Options considered
- Design and detail of work
- How loss of original fabric was avoided or minimised
- Places of worship can be for any faith, e.g. churches, synagogues, mosques or temples, but not cathedrals
- Buildings must remain in active use as places of worship
- Buildings can be of any period and do not need to be listed
- Buildings must be in the UK or Republic of Ireland (including Channel Islands and Isle of Man)
- Work must have received any necessary approvals (e.g. faculty permission and/or listed building consent) in 2022 or 2023
How to enter
Please enter via the online form. We need to know:
- The name of the building
- How it meets the criteria above
- Who was involved in the project, e.g. owners, contractors
- Why you think the building deserves this Award
You need to include:
- A minimum of three and a maximum of six high-resolution images (JPGs or PNGs) that show the building and how it meets the criteria (300dpi minimum)
- Image credits and description saved in the file names, e.g. ‘Gutters © William Morris’
- You must have the photographer’s permission to submit these images
All Awards are free to enter. Shortlisted entries will be required to purchase at least one in-person ticket to the Awards Ceremony (£59 Members, £69 Non-Members).
We can only consider entries that meet the criteria above.
Any questions? Email awards@spab.org.uk.
Past Winners
2022 winner (England & Wales)
2022 winner (Ireland)
The Honan Chapel, Cork was selected as the winner of the 2022 award. Built between 1913 to 1916 in a modernist style, the church is richly decorated. The conservation and repair of the chapel included work to the beautiful stained glass, pews and stonework.
2022 winner (Scotland)
Carntyne Church has served the community since it was built in 1932. Following decades of problems with water ingress, the winning project was developed to carrying out comprehensive conservative repairs to the roof and high level structure.
