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Three East of England churches win at UK awards

Pete CooperBBC News, East of England
Getty Images A stone coloured church with a spire on the left hand side. There is a tree on the right and wispy white clouds in the sky.Getty Images
St Mary Magdalene in Geddington won an award for its conservation

Three churches in the East of England have picked up accolades at the UK Church of The Year awards.

Geddington's St Mary Magdalene in Northamptonshire and St Ethelbert in Larling, Norfolk won the Church Care and Conservation Award for England.

Meanwhile, St Nicholas in Berden on the Hertfordshire-Essex border won the Church Tourism Award for England.

Claire Walker, chief executive of the National Churches Trust, said the buildings were "a vital part of the UK's heritage and history".

National Churches Trust Several people are stood in hi-vis jackets holding food and drink in a churchyard.National Churches Trust
The number of volunteers at St Mary Magdalene was highlighted by the judges

St Mary Magdalene Church is more than 1,000 years old, with Saxon, Norman, Medieval, Renaissance, Victorian, and 20th and 21st Century elements, the National Churches Trust said.

It was praised for having a large number of volunteers, including the Geddington Volunteer Fire Brigade, to help out with its conservation.

Jim Harker, a volunteer at St Mary Magdalene, said: "This award is a cherished acknowledgement of the wide range of volunteers helping to conserve and care for our church."

Matthew Welch A church with stone coloured walls, red tiled roof, and grey coloured entrance and tower. There are gravestones in the churchyard with green grass.Matthew Welch
St Ethelbert in Larling is not connected mains power or water

St Ethelbert, a 12th Century church, is not connected to power or water and is in the middle of farmland, but it is open all year round.

Judges highlighted the church's community spirit, including "farmers coming together with tractors to provide light".

Matthew Welch, treasurer at St Ethelbert, said he and those connected to the church were "absolutely thrilled to receive this award".

Matthew Welch A green tractor shines its light through the darkness on the entrance of a church. The gravestones in the churchyard with green grass are also visible. There is tree behind the tractor.Matthew Welch
The community spirit at St Ethelbert was praised at the awards

St Nicholas Church is Grade I-listed and believed to date back to the 1270s.

It was commended for promoting "champing", where visitors can camp in the church, being open every day and hosting live music and other events.

Rev Gary Fleming, of St Nicholas, said: "The church continues to be a gift and a blessing to the local and wider community."

National Churches Trust Four single beds set up in a church with an alter behind them.National Churches Trust
Visitors are able to camp within St Nicholas Church

They were handed the awards at a ceremony at the Chapter House of Lincoln Cathedral on Tuesday.

St James the Great in Aslackby, Lincolnshire, won the overall Church of the Year.

National Churches Trust A white church with a red roof.National Churches Trust
St Nicholas Church is on the Essex-Hertfordshire border and six miles from Cambridgeshire

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