St Denis’ is an award winning church

First prize in a major competition
for ʻBest conservation’

News


St Denis' church East Hatley, Cambridgeshire from the south west. The Friends of Friendless Churches has completed two phases of restoration work since taking ownership of the building in 2016 – including (in 2018) new windows in the mediaeval nave and (in 2021) new windows in the chancel William Butterfield built in 1874.

By Peter Mann

St Denis’ church in East Hatley, Cambridgeshire, has won a major ‘Best conservation’ award.

The 2023 award – plaque and certificate – given by The Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service and the Cambridge Forum for the Construction Industry (CFCI) to St Denis' church, East Hatley, for 'The Best Conservation, Alteration, or Extension of an Existing Building (under £2m construction costs)'. Submission for the award was made by Stephanie Norris, the Impington based architect who, on behalf of the Friends of Friendless Churches, has overseen the restoration of St Denis' since the FoFC took ownership of the church in 2016.

The CFCI award given to St Denis’ church.

The Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service and the Cambridge Forum for the Construction Industry (CFCI) runs an annual competition for the best construction projects completed in Greater Cambridge.

These include conservation, alterations or extensions to existing buildings as well as new buildings.

For 2023, there were eight project award categories – and St Denis’ won the Best Conservation, Alteration or Extension of an Existing Building (under £2m construction costs) category.

Architect Stephanie Norris and the FoFC's Richard Halsey – winners on behalf of St Denis' church, East Hatley, Cambridgeshire of a Greater Cambridge Design and Construction Award 2023. The award ceremony took place at St Catherine's College, Cambridge on 13th March 2023. Photo by Peter Mann.

Architect Stephanie Norris and the FoFC’s Richard Halsey.

Submission for the award was made by Stephanie Norris, the Impington based architect who, on behalf of the Friends of Friendless Churches, has overseen the restoration of St Denis’ since the FoFC took ownership of the church in 2016.

Their work has included a new floor, new windows, repairing the reredos and replastering the nave. On the FoFC’s ‘to do’ list is a new east window. The church was declared redundant in 1959.

Judging panel

The judging panel was chaired by Dame Fiona Reynolds, former master of Emmanuel College Cambridge and former director-general of the National Trust.

The judging panel from the Greater Cambridge Design and Construction Awards at St Denis' church, East Hatley, Cambridgeshire on 27th January 2023. St Denis' was awarded their 2023 'Best Conservation, Alteration or Extension of an Existing Building (under £2m construction costs)'. Stephanie Norris made the submission for the award – as the architect working on behalf of the Friends of Friendless Churches, she has overseen the restoration of St Denis’ since the FoFC took ownership of the church in 2016. Photo by Peter Mann.

Stephanie Norris with the judging panel at St Denis’ on 27th January 2023. Photo by Peter Mann.

The judges’ commented:

“This is a delightful and heart-warming project. St Denis’ church was closed and stripped out in the 1960s and left to become almost derelict, smothered in ivy and structurally unsafe.

“Taken on by the Friends of Friendless Churches and with strong community support, it has finally received the attention it deserved. The church has been transformed, given new life and added value for the local community.

“We found the enthusiasm from and engagement with the local community particularly inspiring, and hope the church will be used for many events now that is has been brought back to life from the very brink.”

Those involved in the restoration of St Denis’ are listed on the CFCI’s website.

  • The award is also celebrated on the Friends of Friendless Churches website – which includes some interesting historic photos as well as a reference to the ‘Heritage Heroes of Hatley’…

Open daily

St Denis’ is open daily from around 8.30 am to dusk to look round or for quiet contemplation.

There is much more information about St Denis’ in the churches section of this website.

Post created 7th April 2023; extra photos and information added 21st April 2023.