Two Birmingham churches have reached the final of a national competition to find Britain's hardest working church.
St Luke's Church in Kingstanding and St Martin's in the Bull Ring, have been commended for the work they have done within their communities over the last year.
They beat 36 other entries to make it on to the shortlist of 12 in the competition, run by Ecclesiastical Insurance.
The winner will receive a cheque for £1,500 at a ceremony at Windsor Castle in the autumn.
St Luke's was particularly praised for overcoming years of vandalism, neglect and increasing congregation numbers at a time when numbers attending church are decreasing nationally.
When Fr Darren Smith started at St Luke's a decade ago, the church was in the process of closing.
Now hundreds flock to his services and the building has even been enlarged to accommodate extra worshippers.
Fr Smith said: "It just struck me that a church like ours is in a different league to St Martin's because there has been no regeneration here.
"It's just an ordinary working class council estate and over the last seven to eight years we have spent in excess of £1 million on building for the community.
"We have a day centre for the elderly, a computer suite, and many other projects. Worship is also very important and we have had to enlarge the worship area."
St Martin's Church in the Bull Ring is affectionately known as the 'Brummies' Church' and has been a focal point since the 12th century.
In 2000 the church interior was refurbished to bring in more light, and an arts cafe, health centre and training suite were added when the new Bullring shopping centre opened in 2003.
Len Cox, St Martin's chief executive, said: "We operate many pastoral services like access to counselling services, a help desk and a health and healing centre. I do not consider reaching the finals an honour for ourselves but for everybody who has helped to make St Martin's a landmark building."
