steps on the south side, which was removed in the nineteenth century, was rebuilt. In addition, the gate piers of the Rectory yard were repaired and the large iron gates restored. Regency style railings to the churchyard, removed in World War II, were replaced. The north and east façades were repaired and cleaned in 1999–2000. The restoration of the interior, begun in 2000 and completed in 2004, restored the fabric of the church; removed the nineteenth- and twentieth-century alterations; reinstated the original arrangement of galleries following archaeology to establish their original pattern; and has recaptured the proportions, light and clarity of Hawksmoor's original design. In 2015 the Crypt was also restored, restoring much of Hawksmoor's original walls as well as providing a café area. This is accessible via a ramp to make disabled access possible and encourage use by the local community. In February 2016 the restoration of the Crypt was shortlisted in the RICS Awards 2016, London in the 'Building conservation' category. Thus, after years of neglect, the church was restored to its pre-1850 condition, working from the original building documents where possible, a process that stretched over more than 25 years. The restoration revealed the most complex and sumptuous of Hawksmoor's interiors in London. Key players in the restoration were Andrew D "Red" Mason (Project Architect and building historian from 1976 to 2004), Revd. Eddy Stride (Rector), Eric Elstob (Chair of The Friends of Christ Church and benefactor), Howard Kenward, Derek Stride and Hosten Garroway (Wardens), The Hon Simon Sainsbury (benefactor), English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund. "Red" Mason worked from 1972 to 2000 with the architects Whitfield Partners, and from 2000 with Purcell Miller Tritton. Present day An evangelical Anglican parish, Christ Church belongs to the HTB network. Leon Kossoff made several paintings of the church, beginning in 1987. See also List of churches and cathedrals of London References External links Christ Church at the Survey of London Historical account Architectural description Christ Church Spitalfields homepage Great Buildings – Christ Church Christ Church Spitalfields building information & photos Churches completed in 1729 18th-century Church of England church buildings Spitalfields Nicholas Hawksmoor buildings Grade I listed churches in London Grade I listed buildings in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets English Baroque church buildings Diocese of London Spitalfields 1729 establishments in England Ewan Christian buildings Commercial Street, London Holy Trinity Brompton plants