The first UK National church Awards Nominations

The first-ever National Church Awards to celebrate churches and the people who use and look after them is to be held later this year. The National Church Awards which is open to any church, chapel or meeting house in the UK will be judged by a team of church and heritage professionals. It is organised by the National Churches Trust and the categories for the awards are church architecture, church maintenance, church volunteers and church tourism, while there’s also a special prize for the UK’s ‘Church of the Year’. Participating Churches can enter as many categories as they wish and winners will include churches from each of the four nations – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – as well as UK-wide. The National Churches Trust, formerly the Historic Churches Preservation Trust, is a British registered charity whose aim is to “promote and support church buildings of historic, architectural and community value across the UK. Claire Walker, chief executive of the National Churches Trust, said: “Churches, chapels and meeting houses are impressive, exciting and surprising. We want to keep them open and in use, our new National Church Awards bring together all that is brilliant about the work happening in and around church buildings. Architecture, conservation, maintenance, supporting volunteers and providing a great welcome are all hugely important to the future of our churches.” She continued, “Judges will also be choosing the UK’s Church of the Year, a very special award which will go to a church that makes an outstanding difference to both the congregation and also the wider local community; We’re really excited to be celebrating the UK’s amazing churches and the people who care for them and look forward to entries from all parts of the UK.” The National Church Awards will cap off in a high-profile ceremony, including a glorious high tea, to be held at the historic Mercers Company Livery Hall in the City of London in October. ALSO READ Sinach, Chidinma, Mercy Chinwo, Others Bag Clima Awards