REPAIR and conservation work on a north Dorset church has been recognised for a prestigious national award.

Ongoing work to restore the cupola at St Peter and St Paul’s church in Blandford Forum has been nominated for the King of Prussia Gold Medal as part of the esteemed Church Architecture Awards.

The awards are organised by the National Churches Trust in partnership with Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association Church Architecture.

A total of five projects from across the country have been shortlisted for the King of Prussia Gold Medal, which is awarded for innovative, high quality church conservation work.

Claire Walker, chief executive of the National Churches Trust, said: “I’m delighted at the quality and range of the projects entered for the 2017 awards which show clearly how church architecture makes a major contribution to the visual landscape of villages, towns and cities.

“This year our shortlist includes stunning modern buildings, highly creative solutions to repair and conservation work and projects which reinterpret and bring back to life existing churches.”

Three of the five shortlisted projects are the work of Somerset conservation architect Marcus Chantrey, a director of b2architects. He said: “It is a great honour to be shortlisted for these projects. It has been a pleasure to work with such forward thinking clients and skilled contractors.”

His other two projects include the replacement of the historic waggon roof at the Church of All Saints in Nunney, Somerset, and the restoration of the terracotta portico on St Pancras New Church in London.

The winning architect will receive the King of Prussia Gold Medal, a gift from King Frederick William IV of Prussia to the Incorporated Church Building Society in 1857. Prizes will be presented by Prince Nicholas von Preussen and the Duke of Gloucester at a ceremony at in London on October 26.