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The UK's amazing churches are important all year around

Across the UK, churches, chapels and meeting houses are open for you to explore. Please donate today to help ensure our church heritage remains open and in use.

Help save the UK's churches for the future
Two men in hard hats inspecting the interior of a burned out church
Nina McNeary

The Listed of Places Worship Grants Scheme only renewed for one year with reduced budget

Introduced in 2001 by Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor, it allows listed places of worship to reclaim VAT for repairs on their building. It has been renewed by every Government ever since, and over 13,000 churches have benefitted. Without it, churches would be forced to have to raise 20% more to cover the cost of repairs and pay that to the Treasury. But recent Government decisions has left this this scheme in jeopardy; we are concerned by what these changes mean to churches and need your help to save the scheme.

Find out more

Our impact in numbers

  • Over 2000 Churches and chapels

    We've helped keep open, in good repair and supporting local people since 2007.

  • £ 2.8 million awarded in 2024

    To churches and chapels for urgent repairs, new facilities and essential maintenance.

  • 7 Churches and chapels

    Removed from the Heritage at Risk Register in 2024 with the support of our grants.

A grey church behind a graveyard
Denis Dunstone

Discover Scotland’s medieval churches through vivid watercolour

Historic Scottish Churches is the latest offering in Denis Dunstone’s series of superb books, which make use of charming watercolours to tell the stories of medieval churches. Featuring a foreword by National Churches Trust Vice President Lord Wallace of Tankerness, Historic Scottish Churches gives readers an illustrated insight into some of Scotland’s most significant medieval buildings.

Three graphics in a row on a red background

Read about The House of Good: Health

Our The House of Good: Health research show that the UK’s churches take an immense amount of pressure off the NHS and provide essential support services that it would cost an extra £8.4 billion a year to deliver. Find out how.

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Apply for a grant

Our grants are available to any Christian place of worship in the UK that is open for regular worship. Whether you are looking to repair your roof, install a kitchen or accessible toilets, clear asbestos or simply need help undertaking regular essential maintenance to your building, we offer a range of programmes to suit the size and needs of your project.

Church of the Week

Church of the Week

Aberdeen, Grampian

The foundation stone for the current St James was laid on 22 July 1887. Above the altar is the east window, installed in 1901, a masterpiece by the arts and crafts artists Douglas Strachan. It shows Christ in glory, adored by angels, with Moses, Isaiah, and the four evangelists. In 2023 we awarded a £10,000 Cherish Grant to St James the Less, to address water damage in the entrance to the building. The work has now been completed and we're delighted to hear that the church is now watertight once more.

View Aberdeen St James the Less
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IanS

Donate now to help churches stay open and in good repair

There is no bigger issue facing the UK’s heritage than the future of its churches. Help us in our mission to keep churches open and in use for generations to come.

Donate now