We want to support you to keep your church, chapel or meeting house open, well maintained and in use. On this page you’ll find links to resources and training to help you do this.
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we have two dedicated support officers, based in Scotland, who are on hand to help you with advice and training. To get in touch with David or Anne-Marie, please email cherishscotland@nationalchurchestrust.org
From serving in the Royal Navy to winning Radical Entrepreneur of the Year with the Sunday Observer, as well as working for a number of community and faith-based organisations, David brings extensive experience to the National Churches Trust. He is passionate about keeping churches open where possible, as well as helping them to become more self-sustaining. Please get in touch with David if you'd like advice and support for your place of worship.
Anne-Marie has worked with property in the Heritage sector for over 30 years. She believes historic churches can and do play an essential role in our community life and contribute to our sense of wellbeing. The need for good maintenance and the correct approach to traditional repair are the best ways for you to secure the future of your church, and Anne-Marie can help you to do this.
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 grants to suit the size and needs of your project. We also have a special Cherish grant – created especially to help Scottish places of worship.
From how to develop and manage a church building project, to keeping your church in good condition by regular maintenance, you can find out about the key things you need to do to look after your church building.
Many churches, chapels and meeting houses were built to be at the heart of their communities; to be busy and used by all. There are many ways to ensure that this is still the case. Discover how to create the perfect welcome, tell your story and more.
We run regular events throughout the year, to help your place of worship.
Join us from 2pm on Tuesday 24 February 2026. This will be a short session to share some of the heritage events your church, chapel or meeting house could be part of this year. By joining established national or regional programmes, churches can tap into an existing audience, benefit from coordinated marketing, and attract visitors who may never have considered stepping inside.
Join us from 2pm on Tuesday 17 March 2026. This practical and inspiring session is designed to help you think differently about volunteering and support. It will explore how to broaden your appeal, strengthen relationships, and create welcoming opportunities for people to get involved.
Join us from 2pm on Tuesday 31 March 2026 to learn more about The House of Good: Local, a powerful new social value calculator for churches, developed in partnership with State of Life and supported by the Benefact Trust, designed to help you understand and demonstrate the impact your church has in its community.
The Volunteer Mentoring Pilot Scheme helps connect people who have a story to share with those in need of support. We're looking for both mentors and mentees. Find out more and sign up today.
High costs of repairs, dwindling congregation numbers and lack of financial support are making the future of many church buildings in Scotland uncertain. But the National Churches Trust is working in partnership with other organisations in Scotland to help equip places of worship to weather these uncertain times.
Cherish includes training, support, advice and funding for places of worship in Scotland, Wales and North West England (Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester).
