diff --git a/src/functionObjects/field/Make/files b/src/functionObjects/field/Make/files
index fbbac57cb6..1ca07b3766 100644
--- a/src/functionObjects/field/Make/files
+++ b/src/functionObjects/field/Make/files
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 AMIWeights/AMIWeights.C
 
+columnAverage/columnAverage.C
+
 fieldAverage/fieldAverage.C
 fieldAverage/fieldAverageItem/fieldAverageItem.C
 fieldAverage/fieldAverageItem/fieldAverageItemIO.C
diff --git a/src/functionObjects/field/columnAverage/columnAverage.C b/src/functionObjects/field/columnAverage/columnAverage.C
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c0b00cfdab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/functionObjects/field/columnAverage/columnAverage.C
@@ -0,0 +1,185 @@
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
+  =========                 |
+  \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
+   \\    /   O peration     |
+    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2018 OpenCFD Ltd.
+     \\/     M anipulation  |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+License
+    This file is part of OpenFOAM.
+
+    OpenFOAM is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+    under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+    the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+    (at your option) any later version.
+
+    OpenFOAM is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+    ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+    FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
+    for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+    along with OpenFOAM.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+#include "columnAverage.H"
+#include "volFields.H"
+#include "addToRunTimeSelectionTable.H"
+#include "meshStructure.H"
+#include "globalIndex.H"
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Static Data Members * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+namespace Foam
+{
+namespace functionObjects
+{
+    defineTypeNameAndDebug(columnAverage, 0);
+    addToRunTimeSelectionTable(functionObject, columnAverage, dictionary);
+}
+}
+
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * Private Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+const Foam::meshStructure&
+Foam::functionObjects::columnAverage::meshAddressing(const polyMesh& mesh) const
+{
+    if (!meshStructurePtr_.valid())
+    {
+        const polyBoundaryMesh& pbm = mesh.boundaryMesh();
+        const labelList patchIDs(patchSet_.sortedToc());
+
+        // Count
+        label sz = 0;
+        for (const label patchi : patchIDs)
+        {
+            sz += pbm[patchi].size();
+        }
+
+        // Fill
+        labelList meshFaces(sz);
+        sz = 0;
+        for (const label patchi : patchIDs)
+        {
+            label start = pbm[patchi].start();
+            label size = pbm[patchi].size();
+            for (label i = 0; i < size; ++i)
+            {
+                meshFaces[sz++] = start+i;
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (sz == 0)
+        {
+            // TODO: If source patch is a cyclic it may have have been
+            // converted to a processorCyclic for parallel runs
+
+            WarningInFunction
+                << "Requested patches have zero faces"
+                << endl;
+        }
+
+        uindirectPrimitivePatch uip
+        (
+            UIndirectList<face>(mesh.faces(), meshFaces),
+            mesh.points()
+        );
+
+        globalFaces_.set(new globalIndex(uip.size()));
+        globalEdges_.set(new globalIndex(uip.nEdges()));
+        globalPoints_.set(new globalIndex(uip.nPoints()));
+        meshStructurePtr_.set
+        (
+            new meshStructure
+            (
+                mesh,
+                uip,
+                globalFaces_(),
+                globalEdges_(),
+                globalPoints_()
+            )
+        );
+    }
+    return meshStructurePtr_();
+}
+
+
+const Foam::word Foam::functionObjects::columnAverage::averageName
+(
+    const word& fieldName
+) const
+{
+    return name() + ":columnAverage(" + fieldName + ")"; 
+}
+
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+Foam::functionObjects::columnAverage::columnAverage
+(
+    const word& name,
+    const Time& runTime,
+    const dictionary& dict
+)
+:
+    fvMeshFunctionObject(name, runTime, dict),
+    patchSet_(),
+    fieldSet_(mesh_)
+{
+    read(dict);
+}
+
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+bool Foam::functionObjects::columnAverage::read(const dictionary& dict)
+{
+    fvMeshFunctionObject::read(dict);
+
+    patchSet_ = mesh_.boundaryMesh().patchSet(dict.get<wordRes>("patches"));
+
+    fieldSet_.read(dict);
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+
+bool Foam::functionObjects::columnAverage::execute()
+{
+    // Make fields up to date with current selection
+    fieldSet_.updateSelection();
+
+    for (const word& fieldName : fieldSet_.selection())
+    {
+        columnAverageField<scalar>(fieldName);
+        columnAverageField<vector>(fieldName);
+        columnAverageField<sphericalTensor>(fieldName);
+        columnAverageField<symmTensor>(fieldName);
+        columnAverageField<tensor>(fieldName);
+    }
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+
+bool Foam::functionObjects::columnAverage::write()
+{
+    for (const word& fieldName : fieldSet_.selection())
+    {
+        const word resultName("columnAverage(" + fieldName + ")");
+        const regIOobject* obj =
+            obr_.lookupObjectPtr<regIOobject>(averageName(fieldName));
+
+        if (obj)
+        {
+            obj->write();
+        }
+    }
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+
+// ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/functionObjects/field/columnAverage/columnAverage.H b/src/functionObjects/field/columnAverage/columnAverage.H
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..00c28ea940
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/functionObjects/field/columnAverage/columnAverage.H
@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
+  =========                 |
+  \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
+   \\    /   O peration     |
+    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2018 OpenCFD Ltd.
+     \\/     M anipulation  |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+License
+    This file is part of OpenFOAM.
+
+    OpenFOAM is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+    under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+    the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+    (at your option) any later version.
+
+    OpenFOAM is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+    ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+    FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
+    for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+    along with OpenFOAM.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+Class
+    Foam::functionObjects::columnAverage
+
+Group
+    grpFieldFunctionObjects
+
+Description
+    Averages columns of cells for layered meshes.
+
+    For each patch face, calculates the average value of all cells attached in
+    the patch face normal direction, and then pushes the average value back
+    to all cells in the column.
+
+    Useful for channel-like cases where we want to average fields in the
+    spanwise direction.
+
+Usage
+    Example of function object specification:
+    \verbatim
+    columnAverage1
+    {
+        type        columnAverage;
+        libs        ("libfieldFunctionObjects.so");
+        ...
+        patches     (front side);
+        fields      (U p);
+    }
+    \endverbatim
+
+    Where the entries comprise:
+    \table
+        Property     | Description               | Required    | Default value
+        type         | type name: fieldMinMax    | yes         |
+        patches      | list of patches to collapse onto | yes  |
+        fields       | list of fields to process | yes         |
+    \endtable
+
+See also
+    Foam::functionObjects::fvMeshFunctionObject
+
+SourceFiles
+    columnAverage.C
+
+\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+#ifndef functionObjects_columnAverage_H
+#define functionObjects_columnAverage_H
+
+#include "volFieldsFwd.H"
+#include "fvMeshFunctionObject.H"
+#include "volFieldSelection.H"
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+namespace Foam
+{
+
+class globalIndex;
+class meshStructure;
+
+namespace functionObjects
+{
+
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
+                        Class columnAverage Declaration
+\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+class columnAverage
+:
+    public fvMeshFunctionObject
+{
+    // Private data
+
+        //- Patches on which to collapse the fields
+        labelHashSet patchSet_;
+
+        //- Fields to collapse
+        volFieldSelection fieldSet_;
+
+        mutable autoPtr<globalIndex> globalFaces_;
+        mutable autoPtr<globalIndex> globalEdges_;
+        mutable autoPtr<globalIndex> globalPoints_;
+        mutable autoPtr<meshStructure> meshStructurePtr_;
+
+
+    // Private Member Functions
+
+        //- Create the column average field name
+        const word averageName(const word& fieldName) const;
+
+        //- Return the column-based addressing
+        const meshStructure& meshAddressing(const polyMesh&) const;
+
+        //- Calculate the averaged field and return true if successful
+        template<class Type>
+        bool columnAverageField(const word& fieldName);
+
+
+public:
+
+    //- Runtime type information
+    TypeName("columnAverage");
+
+
+    // Constructors
+
+        //- Construct from Time and dictionary
+        columnAverage
+        (
+            const word& name,
+            const Time& runTime,
+            const dictionary&
+        );
+
+
+    //- Destructor
+    virtual ~columnAverage() = default;
+
+
+    // Member Functions
+
+        //- Read the settings
+        virtual bool read(const dictionary&);
+
+        //- Execute, currently does nothing
+        virtual bool execute();
+
+        //- Write the results
+        virtual bool write();
+};
+
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+} // End namespace functionObjects
+} // End namespace Foam
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+#ifdef NoRepository
+    #include "columnAverageTemplates.C"
+#endif
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+#endif
+
+// ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/functionObjects/field/columnAverage/columnAverageTemplates.C b/src/functionObjects/field/columnAverage/columnAverageTemplates.C
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..345307d051
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/functionObjects/field/columnAverage/columnAverageTemplates.C
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
+  =========                 |
+  \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
+   \\    /   O peration     |
+    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2018 OpenCFD Ltd.
+     \\/     M anipulation  |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+License
+    This file is part of OpenFOAM.
+
+    OpenFOAM is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+    under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+    the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+    (at your option) any later version.
+
+    OpenFOAM is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+    ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+    FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
+    for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+    along with OpenFOAM.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+#include "volFields.H"
+#include "meshStructure.H"
+#include "globalIndex.H"
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * Private Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+template<class Type>
+bool Foam::functionObjects::columnAverage::columnAverageField
+(
+    const word& fieldName
+)
+{
+    typedef GeometricField<Type, fvPatchField, volMesh> fieldType;
+
+    const fieldType* fldPtr = lookupObjectPtr<fieldType>(fieldName);
+
+    if (fldPtr)
+    {
+        const fieldType& fld = *fldPtr;
+
+        const word resultName(averageName(fieldName));
+
+        if (!obr_.foundObject<fieldType>(resultName))
+        {
+            fieldType* ptr = new fieldType
+            (
+                IOobject
+                (
+                    resultName,
+                    fld.mesh().time().timeName(),
+                    fld.mesh(),
+                    IOobject::NO_READ,
+                    IOobject::NO_WRITE
+                ),
+                fld
+            );
+            obr_.objectRegistry::store(ptr);
+        }
+
+        fieldType& res = obr_.lookupObjectRef<fieldType>(resultName);
+
+        const meshStructure& ms = meshAddressing(fld.mesh());
+        if (globalFaces_().empty())
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        const labelList& cellToPatchFace = ms.cellToPatchFaceAddressing();
+
+        // Brute force: collect per-global-patchface on all processors
+        Field<Type> regionField(globalFaces_().size(), Zero);
+        labelList regionCount(globalFaces_().size(), 0);
+
+        forAll(cellToPatchFace, celli)
+        {
+            const label regioni = cellToPatchFace[celli];
+            regionField[regioni] += fld[celli];
+            regionCount[regioni]++;
+        }
+
+        // Global sum
+        Pstream::listCombineGather(regionField, plusEqOp<Type>());
+        Pstream::listCombineScatter(regionField);
+        Pstream::listCombineGather(regionCount, plusEqOp<label>());
+        Pstream::listCombineScatter(regionCount);
+
+        forAll(regionField, regioni)
+        {
+            regionField[regioni] /= regionCount[regioni];
+        }
+
+        // And send result back
+        forAll(cellToPatchFace, celli)
+        {
+            const label regioni = cellToPatchFace[celli];
+            res[celli] = regionField[regioni];
+        }
+        res.correctBoundaryConditions();
+
+        return true;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+}
+
+
+// ************************************************************************* //