The light, bright, Salvation Army International HQ against the backdrop of St Paul's. Courtesy Chadwick International

From an entire new mosque to a new access ramp at a local church, nothing has escaped the eyes of the judges of a £35,000 award for religious architecture.

Sir Christopher Frayling, rector of the Royal College of Art, will announce the winner of Art and Christianity Enquiry and the Royal Institute of British Architects’ award, at the Design Council, on November 9 2005.

Shortlisted for the award are, the Salvation Army HQ, London, a new visitor centre and cafe at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool, the Masjid Umar mosque, Leicester and two new entrances to local churches in Lincoln and London.

The Masjid Umar mosque in its bustling location in Leicester

Tony Chapman, RIBA Head of Awards, said: “I am delighted that the RIBA is associated with these awards for the second time and particularly to see that for the first time these awards have been extended to include buildings of all faiths.”

The award is for ‘an outstanding contribution to the external environment to a religious building’.

Tony Chapman went on to say: “The shortlist for this year’s prize could scarcely be more ecumenical and is certain to lead to an excellent winner.”

The shortlisted building projects are as diverse as the places and the faiths they represent.

New access and visitor centre, Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Courtesy Shaw+Shaw

Kay Pilsbury Architects impressed the judges by the sensitivity of the new access ramp built onto the south side of St John’s in Leytonstone, London. They felt that the attention to detail and materials used in construction made it very high quality and something to be proud of.

Falconer Chester created new access and a cafe and visitor centre with integral landscaping at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool. The cathedral, one of the few built in the 20th century, was the product of a competition to design ‘a cathedral in our time’ which was won by Sir Frederick Gibberd.

Kent Porter Warren’s Masjid Umar mosque in Leicester, set in a difficult site, is thought to have ‘presence, integrity and modesty’.

The sensitively designed ramp at St John's in Leytonstone keeps to the character of the building. Courtesy Kay Pilsbury Architects

At Salvation Army HQ in Queen Victoria Street, London, Chadwick International and Sheppard Robson’s use of glass panels, colour and imaginative signage are considered to reflect the Salvation Army’s ‘welcoming and transparent attitude’.

Nocton Village Trail Association improved the Lincoln village’s All Saints Church. A new path and access ramp were created in keeping with the style of the church, whilst the grounds are being landscaped.

The panel of judges, chaired by Maxwell Hutchinson, includes the Revd Maggie Durran, London Diocese Historic Churches Officer, and Jonathan Glancey, architecture correspondent of The Guardian.

RIBA is one of the most influential architectural institutions in the world and ACE aims to promote harmony between faiths, adding prestige to a considerable financial prize.