Ronald Sims (1926–2007) was a distinguished ecclesiastical architect who redesigned many English church interiors. His style combined

modernism Modernism is both a philosophy, philosophical and arts movement that arose from broad transformations in Western world, Western society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The movement reflected a desire for the creation of new fo ...

with a respect for tradition and particularly the Arts and Crafts movement. He graduated in 1952, when he joined the practice of

George Pace George Gaze Pace, (31 December 1915 – 23 August 1975) was an English architect who specialised in ecclesiastical works. He was trained in London, and served in the army, before being appointed as surveyor to a number of cathedrals. M ...

, the ecclesiastical architect based in

York York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...

. In 1975 he inherited the practice after Pace died. He designed the Chapter House at

Southwark Cathedral Southwark Cathedral ( ) or The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, Southwark, London, lies on the south bank of the River Thames close to London Bridge. It is the mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark. ...

and the interior of St Mary's in Putney which had been completely gutted by fire. He similarly transformed

Heslington Church Heslington Church is in the parish (and village) of Heslington, near York, England. As well as the village and some more modern housing estates, the church also serves some outlying farms. The Heslington campus of the University of York is ...

near the

University of York , mottoeng = On the threshold of wisdom , established = , type = Public research university , endowment = £8.0 million , budget = £403.6 million , chancellor = Heather Melville , vice_chancellor = Charlie Jeffery , students ...

, although the exposed

breeze block A concrete masonry unit (CMU) is a standard-size rectangular block used in building construction. CMUs are some of the most versatile building products available because of the wide variety of appearances that can be achieved using them. Tho ...

s and concrete lintels are not to everyone's taste. His work was recognised in 1999 when the

Archbishop of Canterbury The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. The current archbishop is Justi ...

(then

George Carey George Leonard Carey, Baron Carey of Clifton (born 13 November 1935) is a retired Anglican bishop who was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1991 to 2002, having previously been the Bishop of Bath and Wells. During his time as archbishop the Ch ...

) awarded him a

Lambeth Degree A Lambeth degree is an academic degree conferred by the Archbishop of Canterbury under the authority of the Ecclesiastical Licences Act 1533 (25 Hen VIII c 21) (Eng) as successor of the papal legate in England. The degrees conferred most commonl ...

for his contribution to Church building.

Ecclesiastical buildings restored by Sims

St. Mary's Church, Clifton St Mary's Church is a parish church in the Church of England in Clifton, Nottinghamshire, Clifton, Nottinghamshire. The church is Grade I listed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport as a building of outstanding architectura ...

(between 1969 and 1979) * St. Mary's, South Hylton (1970) * St. Mary's Church, Putney (1983) *

St Elphin's Church, Warrington St Elphin's Church is the parish church of the town of Warrington, Cheshire, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the ...

(1999) *

(Chapter house, 1989)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sims, Ronald English ecclesiastical architects English Christians 1907 births 2007 deaths Architects of cathedrals