Read Ruth Gledhill's blog on the controversy

The Church of England has condemned as a "disgrace" the nomination for a Bafta for a violent shoot-to-kill computer game set in one of its cathedrals.

The Dean of Manchester, the Very Rev Rogers Govender, called for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts to withdraw the game, Resistance: Fall of Man, from the nominations.

The controversial game has been nominated for the Bafta sponsor's PC World Gamers' Award - the only publicly voted award in this year's ceremony. Although the winner will not receive a mask but a special gamers' award, that the game is in the nominations at all has still provoked outrage at Manchester Cathedral.

This year, Sony drew condemnation from throughout the Church when it set the virtual wartime game in a representation of Manchester Cathedral without asking permission. The cathedral, which has a special ministry for the victims of gun crime, called for the game to be withdrawn.

The computer games giant later apologised and promised not to repeat the offence, but has continued to market the game, a leader for the PS3 console.

Dean Govender said today: "Bafta should not be seen condoning such behaviour unless they are saying it is acceptable for producers to walk into historic buildings and film interiors, ignoring contracts, rights and liability.

"We asked Sony to sign up to some digital guidelines, asking them to respect our sacred places of prayer, asking them to get permission from those who are responsible for our historic buildings and to not assume that interiors are copyright free. I can reveal today that Sony’s response was very limited and as such other churches, cathedrals and historic buildings may be at risk of exploitation."

He pleaded with Bafta to "send a signal" to the industry and to Sony and withdraw Resistance: Fall of Man from the nominations.

The academy said: "Resistance: Fall of Man has been nominated for our headline sponsor's PC World Gamers' Award - the only publicly voted award in this year's ceremony. The Bafta categories are judged and voted for by Bafta-members and specially selected industry experts, while the sponsor's award is a public vote. The recipient of this award does not receive the brass Bafta mask but instead, the PC World Gamers' Award."