NICK CAHILL AWARD 2023

Nick Cahill, who passed away in 2020, was a hugely influential and highly respected member of Cornwall’s heritage community and was an active member of the Cornish Buildings Group Council. As a valued member of the Truro Diocese Advisory Committee, Nick had a particular passion for churches and chapels. In memory of this, the Diocese of Truro, generously supported by many organisations that Nick supported, set up an award open to projects involving ecclesiastical buildings and sites of all faiths and denominations. The Nick Cahill Award recognises excellence in design and craftsmanship and, in keeping with Nick’s progressive outlook, considers both exciting interventions and more modest conservation, restoration or modernisation projects.

The judges decided not to award the handsome trophy this year (designed by Kurt Jackson) but did give a commendation to the Church of St Ia, St Ives, for a tower clock conservation project. This church is at the heart of a busy community, serving both residents and visitors to the picturesque town. When the tower clock stopped working in 2020 there was never any doubt that it should be repaired. To do this funding and conservators were sourced and the clock removed and repaired, new parts were made, and an automatic regulator installed. The beneficiaries of this project, thanks to the hard work of the PCC, are all of us who visit the town.

Paul Holden, chairman of the Truro Diocese Advisory Committee, said ‘without projects like this, churches would flounder. Here the PCC has been proactive in seeking specialist advice, support and expert skills from Smith of Derby, clockmakers, to restore a 1930s clock. The results have made a huge difference to the town as just hearing bells and seeing a working clock brings a place to life’.

Paul added ‘we would like to thank the organisations who supported the award scheme – the Cornish Buildings Group, Cornwall Archaeological Society, Cornwall Buildings Preservation Trust, Cornwall Council, Cornwall Heritage Trust, Old Cornwall Society, Truro Cathedral, Truro Diocese and the Twentieth Century Society’.