Five finalists picked for York church competition

Dow Jones, Purcell and LDN Architects have been shortlisted in a RIBA competition to re-order a grade I church in York.

Simpson & Brown and Steyn Studio working with conservation specialist Anthony Grimshaw Associates complete the shortlist.

Each of the five shortlisted teams will receive an honorarium payment of £7,000 (+VAT).

The two-stage competition was launched in January to find an architect-led multi-disciplinary team for the contemporary re-ordering of St Michael le Belfry which is next to York Minster and has a congregation of about 800.

The finalists are now beginning to work on their designs for the 16^th-century building which will go on public display in May and also be viewable online.

The vicar, Matthew Porter, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with these experienced and creative architect-led teams and look forward to seeing how they interpret our requirements as a contemporary, faith-filled church family, worshipping in our grade I-listed building. We are excited to see how they might create a beautiful, flexible, modern space which blends thoughtfully with the church’s architecture and history.”

The work will embrace current technology while “remaining faithful” to the building’s heritage, said Keith Williams of Keith Williams Architects, who will be one of the judges and is acting as architectural advisor on the RIBA competition.