Image of a large grey stone abbey with a large central tower, blue skies, green grass and colourful bunting. Karen Hind

Amazing churches are important all year round

All around the UK, churches, chapels and meeting houses are open for you.
Find out how you can help them remain open and in use.

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The Houses of Parliament pictured from above

How the new Government can help keep UK churches open and in use

The new Government inherits a country with stressed public finances and strained public services. Imagination, ingenuity and leadership are all going to be needed – and whatever happens to taxes, the state will be in no position to solve every problem. But there is one national resource, sometimes overlooked by politicians and policy makers that can help: the UK’s network of 38,500 churches and chapels.

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Our impact in numbers

  • Over 2000 Churches and chapels

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

  • £ 2 million awarded in 2023

    To churches and chapels for urgent repairs, new facilities such as loos and kitchens and essential maintenance.

  • 7 Churches and chapels

    Removed from the Heritage at Risk Register in 2023 with the support of our grants.

A photograph of four people on top of a church with blue skies and mountains behind
Historic Churches Scotland

We're hiring: Cherish Support Officer (Scotland)

Are you passionate about helping churches near you to remain open and thrive? If you can respond to enquiries and engage with stakeholders, you could make a massive difference to the churches, chapels and meeting houses in Scotland.

A group of people standing outside a church

How to put on a heritage open day that gets the whole church and community involved

Opening your building up to the public is a great way of welcoming visitors into your church. And by tying it into a local heritage open day event, you could end up attracting many more people into your building. Ebrington Presbyterian church took part in a Heritage Open Day for the first time last year and managed to get their entire church and community involved. Here’s how they did it and the success they had.

A photograph of a cadaver tomb inside a church
© Morgan Ellis Leah

Online Lecture: Cadaver Monuments

Join us online from 5:30pm-6:30pm on Tuesday 30 July to find out more about cadaver tombs in English churches. The National Churches Trust's Morgan Ellis Leah will be sharing about her fascinating new research on these medieval memorials. Book your ticket today.

Church of the Week

Church of the Week

Chester, Cheshire

Chester St Peter's is believed to have been founded in AD907 by Æthelflæd, ruler of Mercia and eldest daughter of Alfred the Great. The present structure dates from the 1300s but has been adapted, extended and rebuilt a number of times over the centuries. On the northeast pier opposite the main church door is a fresco, considered to be the best preserved medieval wall painting in Cheshire. However, the East Wall is bulging outwards, making part of the building potentially structurally unsafe. The wall was temporarily made safe last year by strapping the East Wall and anchoring it to the tower, but permanent action needs to be taken to make the building safe for the long term. Thankfully, a £40,000 National Churches Trust Grant will help to pay for urgent repairs to the stonework, ensuring the church can thrive today and tomorrow.

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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.

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