John Betjeman award

New awards will join our exisiting ones in a celebration of old buildings and the people who champion them.

The first John Betjeman Award in Ireland recognises sensitive external stonework conservation.

Our award for excellence in conservation at places of worship of all denominations and faiths drew a range of impressive entries in the England & Wales category. We were especially pleased to see the United Reformed Church, and Methodist buildings, represented this year.

To celebrate 30 years of the award, the competition was extended for entries from the whole of the UK and Ireland

Our award celebrates excellence in conservation at places of worship of all faiths.

Our John Betjeman Award celebrates excellence in conservation and repair at places of worship of all denominations and faiths.

This award recognises excellence in the conservation of faith buildings across the UK and Ireland. As we celebrate its 30th year, two previous judges look back on their highlights.

By Roger Mears and Stephen Scammell

We both started volunteering for the SPAB as members of a committee in 1996, having worked together – as anarchitect and quantity surveyor - on a number of conservation projects. When the opportunity arose to join as members of the John Betjeman Award (JBA)  jury in 1997 we both volunteered, not knowing to what amazing experiences this would lead. To our surprise and pleasure we were appointed as JBA judges for 16 years  with the third member of the panel changing from year to year.