ACE 2024 Award Winners
We are delighted to announce the winners of the 2024 Awards, which were presented at the ACE Annual Meeting on 28th September 2024.
The ACE Committee, ACE Members, guests, and other magazine editors, gathered in the chapel of Central Hall, Westminster for the ACE Annual Meeting and Awards 2024 on Saturday, 28th September 2024, including afternoon tea in celebration of the 25th anniversary of ACE.
It was a great day with two fantastic speakers in the form of Neil Pugmire, Director of Communications for the Church of England’s Diocese of Portsmouth, and Tim Bullamore, obituries writer for the Times and Telegraph, and being able to reveal the winners of the ACE 2024 Awards.
We were also pleased to launch the new ACE logo with a new more contemporary style that keeps Jesus at the centre of all that we do as editors. Member’s logos are available via the Member’s area of the website.
General thoughts on this year’s entries
The majority of entries this year were from C of E churches, but some were from Methodist churches and sadly only one from a United Reformed Church. Many were produced on good quality paper with professional printing and were very attractive. There were also some really interesting articles- which made it slow going for judges as we wanted to read every word! I’d like to thank the committee for giving up a considerable amount of time to do the judging, and also Chris Meunier, who agreed to help us in this task having received the Gold award for his magazine using colour printing in 2021.
One area we were particularly looking for this year was some Christian content, not just a list of church services, but the actual Christian message. We are here to help, celebrate and encourage editors of Christian church magazines, not community magazines that only have one small mention of God or Christ, or sometimes none. However, we do appreciate editors will need to be sensitive to their readers and less Christian content will be included if the magazine goes to the whole community.
Awards winners or not, we know that a huge amount of time and work goes into editing a magazine, that they are greatly valued by their readers and often reach many people who would never set foot in a church. The outcome and effect of church magazines is unfortunately not measurable, but we trust the Lord is using editors and magazines to work his purpose out.
GOLD
Magazine Ho†Pott, St. Christopher’s church in Pott Shrigley, Cheshire
Editor Cath Matheson
A magazine that has won some awards previously – the Cover award in 2017 and the Graphics award in 2022. Kath Matheson and her editorial team produce Ho†Pott magazine for St. Christopher’s church in Pott Shrigley, Cheshire. The team aim to have fun producing a lively, relevant Christian magazine that has something of interest for anyone who picks it up and hope it raises an awareness of Christ in those who wouldn’t otherwise think about Him at all. All judges thought it was an outstanding magazine, and a worthy winner.
SILVER
Magazine Connections, Richmond, North Yorkshire.
Editor John McCormack
From Richmond in North Yorkshire comes Connections magazine edited by John McCormack, who has only been editor since January, but has the previous editor on his editorial team. Judges thought the magazine fulfilled its aim to ‘produce an attractive, interesting and informative magazine of the highest quality affordable, combining Christian and secular content; publicising church and community events, acting as an outreach in the community and appealing to a diverse readership’.
BRONZE
Magazine In Touch, Otley Parish Church, West Yorkshire
Editor Stephen Hey
In Touch magazine from Otley parish church in West Yorkshire, edited by Stephen Hey. Unfortunately Stephen was unable to be with us as he was already booked to attend a family gathering. Its target audience is visitors as well as the church congregation, aiming to keep their faith and beliefs at the forefront, and to help church members get to know more about each other. It must certainly be appreciated by its 250 readers.
Other award winners
Achievement and individual category awards
Achievement Award
Magazine Haslemere Parish Magazine, Surrey
Editor Jane Slevin
A parish in Surrey, Haslemere, whose editorial team is led by Jane Slevin for Haslemere Parish Magazine. The magazine’s main purpose is outreach, hence the magazine is not actually sold, but there is a suggested donation towards costs. Jane is unable to be here today, but Sue and Roger Davis came on her behalf to accept the award.
Achievement Award
Magazine All Saints Long Ashton, Somerset
Editor David Mumford
A bit further afield, the other Achievement Award goes to a parish in Somerset, Long Ashton. David Mumford and his team produce the All Saints Long Ashton parish magazine each month.
Cover Design
Magazine Knowle Parish Magazine, Solihull, West Midlands
Editor Catherine Robinson
A parish in Solihull, West Midlands, Knowle Parish Magazine produced by Catherine Robinson and her editorial team 10 times a year with a circulation of 1,100. The judges thought the front covers were extremely good and very professional looking, attracting the reader in.
Layout and Design
Magazine Parish News, Owston Ferry, Lincolnshire
Editor Arthur Franks
An A4 sized magazine from North Lincolnshire, Parish News from the parish of Haxey with Owston Ferry, covering 4 churches. Arthur Franks heads up the editorial team who have taken the magazine from a photocopied black and white magazine into a professionally printed full colour one – a move which has been well received and seen an increase in advertising and subscribers. Columns, a consistent font and structure was used and there was plenty of white space.
Choice of Headlines
Magazine Cross Keys, Sleaford, East Sussex
Editor Christine Cooke
Another A4 sized magazine, from Seaford in East Sussex. Christine Cooke is the editor of Cross Keys, produced 6 times a year, is free of charge, has no commercial advertising and is seen as part of St Peter the Apostle church, East Blatchington’s outreach. Imaginative headlines included The Curate’s egg, these Radio Times, Pidgeon Post and It was all Greek to me.
Use of graphics
Magazine Hartlebury Parish Magazine, Worcestershire
Editor John Hellens
A magazine from Worcestershire that has developed significantly recently, Hartlebury Parish Magazine edited by John Hellens and his editorial team. They use a mixture of colour and black and white photos, and there are plenty of good quality photos, especially of people. A small amount of tasteful clip art was also included.
Clarity of Christian message
Magazine The Beneficial, Fownhope, Herefordshire
Editor Clare Caless
A Herefordshire magazine called The Beneficial for the united benefice of Fownhope, and the editor is Clare Caless. There is plenty of Christian content – a great selection ranging from articles, poems and prayers to puzzles and bible quotes. Contributions are from the editor, Rector, Bishop and others. We feel this is one of the most important Awards.
Intended Readership appeal
Magazine Church Magazine for Steyning and Ashurst, West Sussex
Editor Catherine Fitton
Another magazine from Sussex, but West Sussex. Christine Fitton leads the editorial team for the Church Magazine for Steyning and Ashurst which is produced monthly and is free. As well as Christian content it has recipes, gardening articles, topical articles, obituaries and contributions from the school so has a wide appeal.
The 2025 awards will be for black and white magazines, including those with coloured paper cover.
They will launch in Spring 2025 – please check back for details.
If you aren’t already a member of ACE, please consider joining to get great tips, ideas and content for your own magazine.