St Michael and All Angels Church at Walford is one of the six projects that have been shortlisted for The Marsh Awards for Innovative Church Projects; a competition to find the Christian congregations which are running the best community activities in a church building, made possible through the installation of new facilities such as meeting spaces, toilets, kitchens, or through improved access.

Now in their second year, the awards show the positive impact that installing new facilities has on churches and local communities, and on harnessing the energy and enthusiasm of volunteers.

The Community Support Scheme based at the Church has been shortlisted as the new kitchen, toilet, and open area have made it possible to host a scheme to match people in the community who need help, with those who can offer it.

Supported by Herefordshire Council’s Wellbeing Innovation Fund, the scheme is designed to unite the community, matching those in need with those able to offer help. This includes the elderly, bereaved, disabled, or maybe a family with someone in hospital. Volunteers might offer lifts, do some shopping, return books, or do DIY. The Community Support Scheme gathers at St Michael’s monthly. There are also weekly ‘Coffee on a Tuesday’ meetings, in the church or in volunteers’ homes.

Now in their second year, the awards show the positive impact that installing new facilities has on churches and local communities, and on harnessing the energy and enthusiasm of volunteers.

The awards are run jointly by the National Churches Trust, the UK’s church building support charity, and the Marsh Christian Trust.

The awards are open to any Christian congregation in the UK which is a member of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, and which had new facilities installed between 2012 and 2016.

The winner of ‘The Marsh Awards for Innovative Church Projects’ will be announced at the Methodist Central Hall in Manchester on May 18th, and will be awarded a £1,000 prize. A runner up will be awarded a £500 prize.

The judges’ criteria for the shortlist included projects that provide a clear benefit to the wider community, best practice in management and sustainability, and that serve marginalised communities and demonstrate a real understanding of local needs.

Judges for ‘The Marsh Awards for Innovative Church Projects’ are: Luke March DL, Chairman of the National Churches Trust; Jo Winyard and Annie McCarthy, from the Marsh Christian Trust; and Danni Malone from the Cinnamon Network.

Claire Walker, Chief Executive of the National Churches Trust, said: “The National Churches Trust works to ensure that the UK’s churches can serve local people.”

“The projects shortlisted for ‘The Marsh Awards for Innovative Church Projects’ are great examples of how churches can support communities if they have the right facilities available.”