Our Lady of Grace Cathedral wins UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award of Merit on 21 February 2026

Key facts

• The 475-year-old Our Lady of Grace Cathedral in Vasai, Maharashtra, received the Award of Merit at the 2025 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
• The conservation project was executed by architect Ainsley Lewis between 2023 and 2024 at an approximate cost of ₹4.5 crore, funded entirely by the local parish community.
• The year 2025 marked the silver jubilee of the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, which were announced in Bangkok.
• The highest Award of Distinction was shared by the Iwami Ginzan Library Conservation Project in Oda, Japan, and the Sihang Warehouse Conservation Project in Shanghai, China.
• A seven-member international jury selected the winners from a record 90 entries across 16 countries based on technical achievement and sustainability.