George Pace

His architectural style was Modernist, but he respected traditional styles, and on occasions combined both styles in his works.

• Name — George Gaze Pace • Born — 31 December 1915 • Birthplace — Croydon, Surrey, England • Died — 23 August 1975 • Place of death — York, North Yorkshire, England • Occupation — Architect

• Illustration — St Saviour's Church, Fairweather Green, Bradford, one of Pace's Modernist churches George Pace was born in Croydon, Surrey, the son of a ship owner's clerk. He was educated at Addiscombe New College, and then became articled to James Ransome and Cootes in London. He studied in the evenings at Regent Street Polytechnic. Then went on to work with Darcy Braddell and Humphrey Deane, and then with Pite, Son, and Fairweather. During this time he won prizes, including the Pugin scholarship. After qualifying as an architect in 1939, he taught at the polytechnic, but in 1941 he was called up for army service. In that year he married Ina Florence Catherine Jones. During his army service he was commissioned and worked as a supervising architect, based in York.

When in 1949 Pace was appointed as surveyor to the diocese of Sheffield, he resigned his commission and established a private practice in York. During that year he was elected a fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Also in 1949 he was appointed as consulting architect to Lichfield and Llandaff Cathedrals, succeeding Sir Charles Nicholson. Much of his career was spent in restoring and repairing churches, and in designing new fittings, but he also designed new churches. Pace created a design for a cathedral in Ibadan, Nigeria, but it was not built. His works were almost completely ecclesiastical, but he did design a library for Durham University, and carried out repairs at Castle Howard. Pace was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 1971, in recognition of his work with Paul Paget and Peter Philips on the design for the King George VI Memorial Chapel at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. With his wife, Pace had five children. His son, Peter, also trained as an architect, and wrote a book about his father's works. George Pace was also a writer and lecturer, and was concerned about conservation issues, being a member of the York Civic Trust and the York Georgian Society. He died in York in 1975, and his practice was continued by his assistant, Ronald Sims. His ashes are interred in the Retro-choir of Southwark Cathedral.