Holy Trinity Church transformation wins national award

The Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) has been named Restoration or Conservation Project of the Year at the Museums + Heritage Awards 2022 for the restoration of 1719 Holy Trinity Church, Sunderland.

The project was designed to redevelop and regenerate Holy Trinity Church and the surrounding area in order to offer opportunities for learning, celebrating heritage and community participation.

The church, located in the East end of the city, dates to the 1700s and is cared for by national charity, Churches Conservation Trust (CCT), which has invested millions in restoring the Grade I listed Georgian building.

The project has brought the church back into use, safeguarding its immediate future and long-term sustainability.

The doors officially opened last month, after being in progress since September 2019.

The Museum + Heritage Awards judges said they were "impressed by this hugely complex and challenging project and how it was executed with a big heart and deep and broad community engagement."

The project received £5.1m grant funding and donations, from many contributors including the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Benefact Trust and Sunderland City Council alongside a team of more than 200 people who worked hard to sensitively deliver conservation-led restoration.

Cllr Linda Williams, Sunderland City Council's Cabinet Member for Vibrant City, said: "It is fantastic to see the project win such a prestigious award. The inspiration behind the restoration was to take pride and celebrate our history, whilst being optimistic and curious about the future. Seventeen Nineteen is turning the past into new possibilities and it was great to hear the judges commend the project for its community engagement, as that's what this project is all about. 

"This is a really exciting time for us as a city.  Seventeen Nineteen is a fantastic example of the key role which culture and heritage can play in the economic regeneration of our city and communities and I am delighted that this project and the work of all those involved has been recognised in this way."

Rebecca Ball, Chief Executive, Sunderland Culture said: "It's great to see national recognition for such a locally transformative project. Seventeen Nineteen is a wonderful example of cultural regeneration with local communities at its heart and the award is well deserved recognition of the dedication, hard work and creative vision of everyone involved."