The Sandford St Martin Trust is a United Kingdom-based religious charity. It was established in 1978 to promote excellence in religious broadcasting. Each year the Trust holds an awards ceremony for outstanding achievement in religious broadcasting. The awards ceremony is held at Lambeth Palace where prize money of approximately £10,000 is awarded to winners. Categories have included radio, TV, and a Local and Community Award (made in 2014). In 2015 the Sandford St Martin Trust Awards introduced a new children's category for content aimed at under-18s.
The Sandford St Martin Trust also administer a joint "Readers' Award" with the Radio Times for a programme chosen by readers of that magazine.
The Trust is administered by up to twelve trustees. The current chair is the Rt Rev'd Jan McFarlane, Bishop of Repton. Trustees include the broadcasters Roger Bolton and Torin Douglas MBE.
Special awards 2015
Children's Broadcasting Award: Children of the Holocaust, Fettle Animation for BBC Two
Children's Broadcasting Runner-up: Children of Kabul- An Uncertain Future, A CBBC Newsround Special
Trustees’ Award: Lyse Doucet, Broadcast Journalist
2014
Local, Community and Online Award: Sounds Jewish: The Jewish Revival in Poland, JW3: Jewish Community Center for London for Guardian.com website
Personal Award: Melvyn Bragg, Broadcaster
Trustees Award: Sir John Tavener, Composer
2013
Trustees’ Award: Olympic Opening Ceremony 2012, Director: Danny Boyle, Writer: Frank Cottrell Boyce for BBC One
Personal Award: Jonathan Sacks, Former Chief Rabbi
Television Awards
2025 Winner: YOUNG, BRITISH AND ANTI-ABORTION, Firecrest Films for BBC One Runner-up: DEFIANCE – FIGHTING THE FAR RIGHT, Rogan Productions, GroupM Motion Radio Times Readers' Award: RAMADAN – A JOURNEY ACROSS BRITATIN, ITV News for ITV 2024 Winner: A TIME TO DIE, True Vision for ITV Runner-up: WITNESS – A CHILD OF GAZA, Alef Multimedia for Al Jazeera English Radio Times Readers' Award: THE HOLYLAND AND US – OUR UNTOLD STORIES, Wall to Wall Media for BBC Two 2023 Winner: CHILDREN OF UKRAINE, Renegade Pictures for ITV1 Runner-up: EXPOSED: DAVID BADDIEL: JEWS DON’T COUNT, Mindhouse Productions for Channel 4 Radio Times Readers' Award: ‘GOOD GRIEF WITH REV RICHARD COLES, Bowled Over Media Ltd for Channel 4 2022 Winner: BROTHERHOOD: THE INNER LIFE OF MONKS, Intrepid Media Ltd for BBC Four Runner-up: HELP, The Forge for Channel 4 Radio Times Readers' Award: ‘TIME’ BY JIMMY McGOVERN, BBC Studios for BBC One 2021 Winner: Ashes to Ashes, Rees Films for ‘Witness’, Al Jazeera English Runner-up: Exposed: The Church’s Darkest Secrets, Top Hat Productions for BBC Two Radio Times Readers' Award: It’s A Sin, Red Production Company for Channel 4 and HBO 2020 Winner: For Sama, Channel 4 News and ITN Productions for Channel 4 and Frontline PBS Runner-up: The Last Survivors, Minnow Films for BBC Two Radio Times Readers' Award: Good Omens, BBC Studios, Blank Corporation, Narrative and Amazon Studios for Amazon 2019 Winner: My Dad, The Peace Deal and Me, Dragon Film & Television for BBC One Runner-up: Louis Theroux’s Altered States: Choosing Death, BBC Studios: The Documentary Unit for BBC Two Radio Times Readers' Award: A Vicar’s Life, BBC Studios, Pacific Quay Productions for BBC Two 2018 TV and Radio Times Readers’ Award: Broken, LA Productions Ltd for BBC One Runner-up: ISIS: The Origins of Violence, Blakeway Productions for Channel 4 2017 TV and Radio Times Readers’ Award: A World Without Down’s Syndrome?, Dragonfly Film and Television for BBC 2 Runner-up: Life and Death the Pentecostal Way, BBC Studios Pacific Quay Productions for BBC 2 2016 Winner: My Son the Jihadi, True Vision Productions for Channel 4 Runner-up: Baz the Lost Muslim, Brown Bread Films for RTÉ2 Radio Times Readers' Award: Call the Midwife, Neal Street Productions for BBC One 2015 Winner: One Million Dubliners, Underground Films for RTÉ One Runner-up: Marvellous, Fifty Fathoms and Tiger Aspect Productions for BBC Two
2014 Winner: The Story of the Jews, Oxford Film and TV for BBC Two, Presenter: Simon Schama Runner-up: A Very British Ramadan, Watershed Productions for Channel 4 Runner-up: Hillsborough – Never Forgotten, BBC Religion and Ethics for BBC Two
2013 Premier Award: David Suchet: In the Footsteps of St Paul - CTVC/Jerusalem Productions for BBC One, Presenter: David Suchet Runner-Up: Goodbye to Canterbury - BBC Factual Arts for BBC Two, Presenter: Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury Merit Award: Islam: The Untold Story - Maya Vision International for Channel 4 Radio Times Readers' Award: David Suchet: In the Footsteps of St Paul - CTVC/Jerusalem Productions for BBC One
2012 Premier Award: Life of Muhammad - Crescent Films / Rageh Omaar for BBC Two, Presenter: Rageh Omaar Runner-Up: The King James Bible: The Book that Changed the World - BBC Religion & Ethics for BBC Two, Presenter: Melvyn Bragg Merit Award: Ian Hislop: When Bankers Were Good - Wingspan Productions for BBC Two, Presenter: Ian Hislop Merit Award: Wonderland: A Hasidic Guide to Love, Marriage and Finding a Bride - BBC Factual for BBC Two Radio Times Readers' Award: Songs of Praise 50th Anniversary - BBC One / BBC Religion & Ethics
2011 Premier Award: The Nativity - Red Planet Pictures / BBC Wales for BBC One Runner-up: Our World: God’s Beggar Children - BBC News Channel / BBC World News Merit Award: Benedict: Trials of a Pope - BBC Religion & Ethics for BBC Two Merit Award: Rev - Big Talk Productions for BBC Two Radio Times Readers' Award: The Nativity - Red Planet Pictures / BBC Wales for BBC One
2010 Premier Award: The Bible: A History, Episode 1: Creation - Pioneer Productions for Channel 4, Presenter: Howard Jacobson Runner-Up: A History of Christianity, Episode 1 - BBC Religion & Ethics for BBC Four, Presenter: Prof Diarmaid MacCulloch Merit: 1984: A Sikh Story - BBC Religion & Ethics for BBC One, Presenter: Sonia Deol Merit: Did Darwin Kill God? - BBC Religion & Ethics for BBC Two, Presenter: Conor Cunningham Radio Times Readers' Award: A History of Christianity, Episode 1 - BBC Religion & Ethics for BBC Four, Presenter: Prof Diarmaid MacCulloch
2009 Premier Award: Miracle on the Estate - BBC Religion & Ethics for BBC One Runner-up: The Passion, Episode 3 - BBC Drama / Deep Indigo / HBO for BBC One Runner-up: The Qu’ran - Juniper / Antony Thomas for Channel Four Merit Award: Dispatches: Saving Africa’s Witch Children - Red Rebel / Oxford Scientific Films for Channel Four
2008 Premier Award: The Boys from Baghdad High
2007 Premier Award: Greater Love Hath No Man – BBC Religion and Ethics for BBC1 Runner-up: Art & Soul – BBC Scotland and TV Factual Aberdeen for BBC2 Scotland Merit Award: The Convent – BBC Religion and Ethics for BBC1 Merit Award: Every Parent’s Nightmare – BBC Religion and Ethics for BBC1
2006 Premier Award: 7/7: A Test of Faith – Granada Factual North for ITV1 Runner-up: Priest Idol – Diverse (Bristol) in association with Jerusalem Productions for Channel 4 Merit Award: Tsunami: Where Was God? – 3BM for Channel 4 Merit Award: The Monastery – Tiger Aspect in association with Jerusalem Productions for BBC2
2005 Premier Award: Victim 0001 – CTVC for ITV1 Runner-Up: Children of Abraham – 3BM Television for Channel 4 Merit Award: Karbala – City of Martyrs – ITN for Channel 4 Merit Award: Jointly awarded to Jesus Who? – BBC Religion and Ethics for BBC1 and The Battle for Britain’s Soul – BBC Religion and Ethics for BBC2
2004 Premier Award: The Naked Pilgrim – Wag TV for Five Runner-up: Some of My Best Friends Are… – Lion Television for Channel 4 Merit Award: Songs of Praise – BBC1
Radio Awards
2025
Winner: STAGGERING IN THE DARK, Falling Tree Productions for BBC Radio 3 Runner-up: THE QUILT – THE FAITH, Aunt Nell 2024
Winner: THE INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF HOPE – WARTIME CHRISTMAS IN UKRAINE, Sunday Worship, BBC Religion and Ethics for BBC Radio 4 Runner-up: THE RIGHT THING: FOLLOW GOD, NOT THE PEOPLE, CTVC for BBC World Service 2023
Winner: FAITH, SEX AND ME, Loftus Media for Hits Radio Pride Runner-up: THE CHURCH OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, BBC Radio 4 2022
Winner: A UYGHUR RAMADAN, CTVC for’Things Unseen’ podcast Runner-up: THINGS FELL APART, BBC Audio for BBC Radio 4/BBC Sounds 2021
Winner: The Paddle Out, Falling Tree Productions for BBC World Service Runner-up: The Deadly Saris, Documentary on One for RTÉ Radio 1 Runner-up: The Punch, Just Radio Ltd for BBC Radio 4 2020
Winner: The Wind Phone, Falling Tree Productions for Heart & Soul, BBC World Service Runner-up: This Is My Story: Allen Langham, United Christian Broadcasters for UCB Player App/Podcast Platforms 2019
Winner: Doorstep Daughter, BBC Radio Current Affairs for BBC Radio 4 Runner-up: The Silence of the Lamb (Lent Talk), BBC Religion for BBC Radio 4 2018
Winner: 5 Live with Emma Barnett: Stanbrook Abbey, 5 live Daily production team for BBC Radio 5 live Runner-up: Hardeep’s Sunday Lunch: Inverness, BBC Radio Religion and Ethics for BBC Radio 4 2017
Winner: All Thing Considered: Aberfan 50 Year Anniversary, Religious Programmes Department for the BBC Radio Wales Runner-up: Canada’s Atheist Minister, BBC Radio Productions North for BBC World Service 2016
Winner: Objections at the Wedding (Heart and Soul), Whistledown Productions for the BBC World Service Runner-up: Not Now, BBC Radio Scotland for Radio 4 2015
Winner: No Destination, Reel Soul Movies for BBC Radio 4 Runner-up: For the Love of God, BBC Asian Network
2014 Winner: I Have a Dream, BBC Scotland Features for BBC Radio 4 Runner-up: Married For a Minute, BBC Asian Network
2013
Premier Award: Hearing Ragas, BBC Radio 4 Runner-up: Blasphemy & the Governor of the Punjab, BBC Radio 4 Merit: The Pulse Passion, Whistling Frog Productions, HCJB Global for the Pulse
2012
Premier Award: Resurrection Stories, BBC Radio Scotland Runner-up: Faith and 9/11, TBI Media for BBC Radio 2 Merit: Something Understood: Abraham, Unique Productions for BBC Radio 4 Merit: Good Friday Reflection, Central FM
2011
Premier Award: King James Bible: Readings, BBC Religion & Ethics for BBC Radio 4 Runner-up: The Pope’s British Divisions, BBC Radio Current Affairs for BBC Radio 4 Merit: Good Friday Special, Prison Radio Association for National Prison Radio Merit: Jesus Meek and Mild, The Pulse, West Yorkshire Merit: All Things Considered: Sarah Joseph, BBC Radio Wales
2010
Premier Award: Twin Sisters: Two Faiths, Ladbroke Productions for BBC Radio 4 Runner-up: The Understanding, BBC Radio Drama for BBC Radio 4 Merit: All Things Considered: Treasures out of Darkness, BBC Radio Wales Merit: Dear God, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Merit: Something Understood: Hospitality, Loftus Audio for BBC Radio 4
2009
Premier Award: Witness (Episode 4): Tested, BBC Religion & Ethics/BBC Drama for BBC Radio 4 Runner-Up: Christmas Awakening, BBC Scotland Merit: Let us Pod: Bereavement, Clifton Diocese Website and BCfm Community Radio for Bristol Merit: Heart and Soul: Fatwas, BBC World Service
2007 Premier Award: God and the Gun – BBC Religion for BBC Radio 4 Runner-up: Life Beyond Death – BBC World Service Merit Award: Humphrys in Search of God – BBC Radio 4; Merit Award: Do You Have to be Religious to Get Elected? – BBC World Service
2006 Premier Award: Cities Without Maps – BBC Religion and Ethics Runner-up: Reporting Religion – BBC World Service
2005 Premier Award: The Rainbow Through the Rain – Premier Christian Radio Runner-Up: Singing from a New Hymn Sheet from the series Crossing Continents – BBC Radio 4
2004 Premier Award: The Choice – BBC Radio 4 Runner-up: At the Foot of the Cross: Stainer's The Crucifixion – BBC Radio 2
References
External links Official website of Sandford St. Martin Trust