A white historic church with a cross on it sits at the back of a sunflower field.

93,500 years of church history saved

Together we saved 93,500 years of church history in 2024 by giving out 314 grants to churches in need. But there are thousands of churches still at risk.

Will you help keep them open?

A large church - Newark St Mary Magdalene in Newark - with large windows. There are bare trees and colourful flowers in the foreground and a blue sky with few clouds. — Mat Fascione

Save the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme

The Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme is a lifeline for historic churches – saving them 20 per cent on repair costs. But the future of the scheme is uncertain – and churches, chapels, meeting houses and cathedrals across the country are now paying up to a fifth more for repairs. To fix urgent needs like leaking roofs and crumbling towers. Some of them cannot afford to do these repairs anymore, putting heritage and church buildings across the country at risk of disrepair and closure. The Department of Culture, Media and Sport have now been given their budget for the next few years. It is now up to them to decide if they will fund the scheme. Please join us in urging them to make the scheme permanent.

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 yellow-coloured church pictured behind some flowers — Iain Soden Heritage Projects

How did we keep another 80 churches open?

We’re here to help churches stay open and in use – that’s what we do. Thanks to our Friends, donors, and partner organisations together we have helped keep the doors open at over 80 churches, chapels and meeting houses with our latest round of grants. Find out more about the brilliant churches we have helped with our latest round of grants.

Exterior of St Martin church. A historic church in Devon in grey stone with a square tower to the left of the image. Graves and green grass are in the foreground and a white and cloudy sky is behind the building. — Robert Cutts

New research shows the public value historic churches

Historic England has released new research which shows that there is strong public support for preserving the nation’s historic churches. This was even the case among people who are secular or who do not attend church services. But why does this matter now - and how can we save churches in need?

NCTShirleyAdams2022(©mikeswift&NCT)1 — MikeSwift

A tribute to Shirley Adams: a true champion of volunteers

Shirley Adams JP (Justice of the Peace) made a huge difference to communities across the UK. We want to share our gratitude for Shirley and everything she did in support of churches and the people who keep them going. Her dedicated work as a Trustee of the National Churches Trust shows how one person can create change. Find out more about Shirley and the lasting legacy she leaves behind.

Church of the Week

Standish, Greater Manchester

Standish St Wilfrid is Wigan’s oldest building. This iteration of the church was built in the 1500s. Just 300 years later, lightning struck the spire it eventually blew down during a ferocious storm. The spire was quickly replaced in 1857. Standing at 130 feet, the spire has been a landmark in Wigan for more than 150 years. It is an icon for many, giving people a sense of place and comfort. But in more recent years, the St Wilfrid faces a future without this magnificent heritage. We can confirm that the spire has been saved for the future – thanks in part to a grant from the National Churches Trust.

View Standish St Wilfrid