DON’T JUST LOVE IT. HELP SAVE IT.

Plague, war, fire. Churches have stood through it all. But they won’t survive the next five years without you.

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Breaking news: churches now forced to pay VAT on all repairs

On the 22 January 2026, the UK Government confirmed the end of Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. It will be replaced by a £92 million grant scheme called the Places of Worship Renewal Fund. However, historic places of worship have been left stranded as Government money for the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme has ran out before the deadline and the new scheme is not up and running.

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Keeping church buildings open and in use

Our impact in numbers

  • Over 2000 Churches and chapels

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

  • £ 2.6 million awarded in 2025

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

  • 12 Churches and chapels

    Removed from the Heritage at Risk Register in 2025 with the support of our grants.

Church of the Week

Church of the Week

Steeple Aston, Oxfordshire

St Peter and St Paul in Steeple Aston, Oxfordshire, our Church of the Week, held a service of thanksgiving and dedication recently to celebrate their new roof, made possible in part by a grant from the National Churches Trust. Originally a Saxon building, this Grade II* Listed church has been updated and restored over the years and you'll find a number of eras represented, including with a Georgian monument, a 17th-century chancel, an Arts and Crafts lectern and an unusual 14th-century piscina. A leak in the vestry roof threatened this rich heritage recently – water was getting into the building and beams were rotting, and the roof of the lady chapel was badly in need of re-tiling. The team at the church turned to the National Churches Trust for help, and we were able to award them a grant of £10,000 towards this essential project. With the repairs completed, the church is thriving again. Our Church Support Administrator Gillian joined the community there for a celebration service. “I had a truly enjoyable morning attending the thanksgiving service for the new roof,” said Gillian. “It was also great to hear about and be shown some slides of the roof works in progress (and there were homemade refreshments too!). It was wonderful to see what a difference these much-needed repairs have already made.”

View Steeple Aston St Peter & St Paul
A cross with 'The National Churches Survey' written on it.

The National Churches Survey results

The National Churches Survey sets out clearly the challenges that churches are facing and also the opportunities for renewal, if we act together. Without intervention the risks are high – we risk losing these buildings and all they embody – for good. Let us rise to that call, so that churches, chapels and meeting houses continue to stand as beacons of hope in the United Kingdom now and for many generations to come.

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Ioan Said

Become a Trustee of the National Churches Trust

We're looking for two new Trustees to help us keep churches open and thriving at the heart of their communities. Please click through to find out more about what we're looking for and how to apply.

A large stone church with a red roof and prominent square tower on the left-hand side of the image. Photographed on a cloudy yet sunny day.
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Another 80 churches saved for the future

Through our latest round of grants, we can reveal that more than £900,000 has been awarded to churches, chapels and meeting houses across the country, to keep these magnificent buildings open and in use. Explore our gallery to find out more about the projects happening at these unique places of worship and hear from the churches directly about the impact of the grant and what it will achieve.