THIS week we announce the shortlist of finalists for the 2017 Church Times Green Awards. The awards have two objectives: to celebrate the remarkable efforts made in recent years by individuals and congregations to offset the damage being done to the earth; and to set good examples before others who might be inspired to follow suit.

The shortlist:

Biodiversity award: Bradford Cathedral; OASIS Community Church, Worksop; St Asaph’s, Denbignshire; St James’s, Finchampstead; St John’s, Sharow.

Green Building award: Gloucester Cathedral; Holy Trinity, Bradford on Avon; Holy Trinity, Tulse Hill; St Wenn’s, Bodmin.

Green Congregation award: Garden design and development team (Campoverde Church, Spain); Inverkip Church Eco-group; St Catherine’s Environment Group (St Catherine’s, Burbage); Shildon Alive! Guerrilla Gardening Team (St John’s, Shildon)

Green Champion award: Martyn Goss (diocese of Exeter); Br Hugh Cobbett SSF (Hilfield Friary); Victoria Gilbert (St Catherine’s, Burbage); Suzanne Dalton (St Chad’s, Far Headingley); Judith Allinson (St John’s Methodist Church, Settle).

Green Futures award: Baildon Methodist Church; Hamutua Quarterly Meeting Friends Church, Kenya; Sheddingdean Baptist Church; St Mary the Virgin, Cannington.

Shortlisted entries will be featured in the Church Times in the coming weeks. The winners of all five awards will be announced at Lambeth Palace on 16 October.