A church in Wilburton, Ely, is in the running to win a top prize of £10,000 in an annual competition.

St Peter’s is one of five churches to have made it to the finals of Ecclesiastical Insurance’s Great Community Mural competition.

A spokesman said: “The competition encouraged churches to get creative and send in a visual representation of their role in the community.

“The five finalists are already guaranteed to win £2,500 with one church set to win the grand prize of £10,000.”

“The entries submitted by these churches will also feature as the centrepiece of The Great Community Mural – the printed tapestry of all the church entries that will be 10 metres wide and three metres in height. It will be unveiled to the public in October.

“The mural will showcase the broad range of activities and support that the UK’s churches provide to their local communities.

“After the official unveiling the mural will be taken on a tour of the country, visiting several cathedrals - including Ely - giving people a chance to come and see one of the largest pieces of community art ever created.

Michael Angell, church operations director at Ecclesiastical and one of the competition judges, said: “The standard of entries was outstanding and selecting the top five was very difficult.

“The effort that had gone in to some of the entries was extraordinary.

“What the competition has really highlighted is the wide and varied role that churches play in their communities.

“We’ve seen all manner of activities represented in the artwork; from helping the elderly and the lonely to running youth clubs, mother and toddler groups, and advice centres that support those with alcohol and drug problems.

“Much of this work goes unnoticed and we hope that this competition sheds some light on the important contribution churches make to society.”

The other four churches in the running are St Nicholas Church, Bulwick Village, Northants, St Peter’s Church, Dumbleton, Worcestershire, The Church of the Ascension, Kenton, Newcastle upon Tyne and St Edmund King & Martyr, Stoulton, Worcestershire.

The other judges were The Right Reverend Dr John Inge, The Bishop of Worcester, and Tim Steward, an artist specialising in Christian imagery.