St Giles' Church, Pontefract John Cunnington, Walker Cunnington Architects

The magnificent St Giles’ Church in Pontefract is widely regarded as the heartbeat of this historic Yorkshire town. Situated in the centre of Pontefract, this Grade II* Anglican Parish Church, with its striking octagonal tower, has its origins in the 12^th century. The refurbishment had to seamlessly merge disparate architectural styles into a coherent design statement. The church has always played a significant part in hosting key events in Pontefract, as well as being a drop-in centre for residents and visitors alike.

The refurbishment project, led by John Cunnington of Derbyshire-based Walker Cunnington Architects, involved external repairs to crumbling stonework and extensive internal alterations with a new level stone floor with underfloor heating to the ground floor and a structural steel frame to support the new first floor at the west end. All alterations were designed to minimise the impact on archaeology and existing historic fabric.

Treske designed and made the 163 St Wilfrid chairs and armchairs, two Deacons’ chairs, one president’s chair, together with a lectern, six servers’ stools, six benches for the choir, four choir frontals and four choir readers. The beautifully-finished chairs, which replaced the traditional wooden pews, are made from lightly fumed oak with rush seating

The overall refurbishment of St Giles’ Church, which has been funded by a number of different grants and parish-giving initiatives, has already won awards, including the top prize at this year’s Pontefract Civic Society annual design awards and the 2014 RICS Pro Yorkshire Award for Building Conservation. St Giles' now stands as a fine example of how to enhance historic churches to keep them active places”.

St Giles’ Church has always been a fundamental part of the community of Pontefract from the time when it was first built in the 12^th century, providing sanctuary and a place of worship. This comprehensive refurbishment of the church, carried out with skill and love, will ensure that it remains a pivotal part of Pontefract life for generations to come.