RIPON College in Cuddesdon has unveiled plans for a new chapel with a distinctive boat-shaped roof, following a major design competition.

It is one of the Church of England’s most important training and educational centres, responsible for training more high-flying clergy than any other seminary.

Now the college wants to build a new chapel with space for 120 people because it says there is not enough room in the existing chapel to allow everyone to worship together.

A design competition attracted 126 entries from architects, with the winning design, pictured, submitted by Niall McLaughlin Architects.

The firm came up with designs for a modern church with a wooden roof, shaped as a tethered boat, with a keel and crossed timbers.

College principal Canon Prof Martyn Percy said: “The chapel forms part of an exciting development plan that will also provide additional accommodation and teaching space for the college as well as closer links with significant local Christian communities.”

A planning application will now be submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council in November. The college hopes work could begin by October 2010, with the chapel taking about a year to complete.