'Lowena' at St Torney's, North Hill as they are shortlisted for the 2025 Cornish Buildings Award!

Rich in Cornish history and heritage, Grade I listed St Torney's Church, has been an impressive feature in the village of North Hill since as far back as the 14th century. In 2022 the church came into the care of The Churches Conservation Trust (CCT), and has undergone substantial conservation work, breathing new life into the building and returning it to being a focal point of the village once again. As a result of this work we are thrilled to announce the project has been shortlisted for the prestigious Cornish Buildings Group (CBG) Award.

The CBG Awards aim to promote projects which make a significant contribution to improving the built environment in Cornwall, while achieving a satisfactory solution to the aims and objectives of the client and their architect or designer.

Meriel O’Dowd, Conservation Projects Manager, West has been involved in the conservation project at St Torney's for the past three years;

"CCT are overjoyed to be shortlisted and would like to thank the main contractor, Specialist Stone Masonry of Penstraze, our Architect, Rebecca Harrison of Harrison Brookes Architects, the Natural Plaster Company based near Falmouth, Heritage Stained Glass and all of the other wonderful craftsmen and craftswomen who worked to transform this ancient, beautiful church into a space loved and used by the community again.’

Local Community Officer, Marie Leverett has worked closely with the community and supporters at St Torney's, North Hill and looks forward to a busy calendar this summer;

‘We are thrilled to be shortlisted for the Cornish Building Award. The conservation work we have carried out at St Torney’s has given this incredible church a new lease of life and the church has already hosted several events and activities since opening in October 2024. Coming up soon we have a performance of The Tempest on 20th June, a literary event on the Wars of the Roses with well known author Annie Garthwaite on 14th August and a performance of Perseus and Andromeda on 30th August. We are delighted that the local community are enjoying and embracing their newly restored church, helping us care for it and that it is once again full of life.’

The judges will be visiting on the 15th June to look at the building and all the work which has been carried out. 

In the meantime the community are urged to head on down to the church and get involved! There really is something for everyone, from community cleaning days Wednesday 18th June and 11th August - to theatre performances and literary events. If you are interested in volunteering or would like to find out more please contact the Local Community Officer, Marie Leverett, on mleverett@thecct.org.uk.