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

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

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

York York is a cathedral city with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many hist ...

. 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 Southwar ...

and the interior of St Mary's in Putney which had been completely gutted by fire. He similarly transformed Heslington Church 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 blocks and concrete lintels are not to everyone's taste. His work was recognised in 1999 when the Archbishop of Canterbury (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 for his contribution to Church building.

Ecclesiastical buildings restored by Sims

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

St. Mary's Church, Putney St. Mary's Church (in full, the Church of St. Mary the Virgin), Putney, is an Anglican church in Putney, London, sited next to the River Thames, beside the southern approach to Putney Bridge. There has been a centre of Christian worship on this s ...

(1983) * St Elphin's Church, Warrington (1999) *

(Chapter house, 1989)

References

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