New data from Historic England shows that the public are largely unaware of who foots the bill for church repairs. But why does this matter – and what can we do to help?
A poll commissioned by Historic England, which was carried out by Savanta, interviewed 1763 adults in England in September 2025. The question asked was: which of the following do you believe is mainly responsible for the upkeep of historic churches?
The results were:
- Over a third of people – 39 percent – believed it was the relevant church authorities, eg the Church of England or the Catholic Church
- 15 percent thought it was the local District Council
- 12 percent did not know
- 12 percent said it was the National Churches Trust
- 12 percent believed it was Historic England or English Heritage
- 11 percent said it was a local committee including the vicar, churchwardens and ordinary people
- 1 percent believed it was another organisation
So, who does pay for church repairs to keep these buildings open and in use?
The responsibility for the upkeep, care and maintenance of historic churches falls on the shoulders of the local congregation, including any staff – but in almost all cases it is mainly volunteers – at each church, chapel, meeting house or cathedral.
There is no consistent UK Government funding for these buildings – other than a VAT reclaim scheme that has been slashed and could be scrapped in the next few months – even though these buildings are some of the nation’s most important heritage. Grade I, II* or II buildings that house the most amazing art – stained glass, monuments, wall paintings – spanning hundreds and hundreds of years.
One in every 20 churches in the UK need a new roof in the next year. There are almost 1,000 churches, chapels, meeting houses and cathedrals on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register. We know from speaking to churches that they are putting off urgent repairs because they do not have the money. Grants are scarce and application forms take time and fundraising expertise – many churches do not have paid staff who can apply or are unaware of what help there is out there.
Towers are crumbling. Timbers are rotting. Roofs are leaking. We risk losing some of these buildings for good if action is not taken soon.
In Wales/Cymru, around 25 per cent of historic churches and chapels have closed in the last decade. So, what must be done?
A cultural and community crisis
“There is no doubt that the future of churches is a cultural and community crisis,” says Ben Sims, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the National Churches Trust.
“Everyone benefits from an open and thriving church at the heart of their community. They contribute £55 billion a year through the community activities they host and run – food banks, mental health support, youth clubs, debt advice. They also draw millions of visitors to the UK too, providing a significant boost to the economy.”
Inflation and the cost of building materials continue to increase. It is becoming harder and harder for local people to keep their church in good condition.
Once a church falls into disrepair and the bills pile up, it becomes more difficult for the building to be used regularly. Areas begin to be roped off. Buckets become a regular feature next to the pews. Activities like community cafes and parent and toddler groups, can no longer run. Congregations dwindle.
How can we keep the doors open?
“Churches across the country are struggling with their repair bills alone – the wider public does not understand the scale of the crisis and what’s causing it,” continues Ben Sims.
“It is all happening under the radar, which means that by the time people realise their local church has a huge repair bill and is closing, it can be too late to save it.
“Local people footing the bill for repairs is not sustainable. We urgently need the UK Government, Christian denominations and the heritage sector to work together on a plan that will see these buildings properly funded and their volunteers supported.
“And in the meantime, we must keep spreading the word about the crisis. We must do all we can to help let people know about this crisis, before it is too late.”
If you want to see church buildings kept open and in good repair, please consider writing to your local newspaper or contacting your MP and highlight why church buildings matter and why you support them being properly funded.
