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Saving a roof safeguards the rest of a building: paintings, monuments, tombs, tiles, metalwork, woodwork, walls, floors, bells, organs. Saving a roof enables vital work to carry on. According to our National Churches Survey, as many as 3,850 churches, chapels, and meeting houses need an urgent roof repair in the next twelve months. This is a cultural and community crisis, affecting the longevity of heritage treasures, and also meaning good works cannot continue. Food banks cannot run if the roof is falling in. Rough sleepers can’t be cared for. Mum and toddler groups will shut.

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 in our latest round of grants. That is almost £1 million given to local places of worship through grants that are designed to protect important heritage, repair urgent issues and help the church better serve the needs of their community.

As a champion of volunteers, Shirley Adams JP (Justice of 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.

St Hubert’s has outlasted Idsworth, the village it used to serve. 500 years of human habitation gone without a trace. But the church endured. St Hubert's survived the plague, but just recently, its future started to look more uncertain. Find out the fate of this historic church, and how you can keep churches open for future generations to enjoy.

This year marks 37 years since the deadliest terror attack on UK soil. But the memories of the victims are being kept alive – thanks to a local church.

Churches are not just for worship; these buildings are often the greatest storytellers in the area. They have witnessed events of local and national significance, but they have also been shaped by the people who have connected with them too. However, some of these stories can get lost over time. One church in Lincolnshire decided it was time for them to be told – and found a creative way of doing it.

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?

The details of the Spending Review have been announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The Department of Culture, Media & Sport [DCMS] has been given its budget for the next three years. One choice DCMS must now make is whether to fund the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme – a scheme that has so far saved over 13,000 churches but now faces an uncertain future.

During a Westminster Hall debate, MPs from different political parties urged the Government to fund church buildings if they want to continue to see vulnerable people helped and heritage saved. It was great to see MPs from different parties speak about the value of churches and show their support for The Listed Places of Worship Grants scheme. Find out more about what was covered in the debate here.

The Countryside Alliance published new research showing that, on average, at least eight crimes took place at churches every day from 2022-2024. The statistics are sadly no surprise. And now, through no fault of their own, repair costs to fix the damage will be up to 20 percent more expensive for listed churches.

Changes by the Government have made repairs to any listed place of worship up to 20 per cent more expensive to carry out. Despite this devastating blow for churches, we are pleased to announce in our latest round of grants, we have helped 42 churches, chapels and cathedrals, so they can help keep their buildings open and serving the community.

The National Churches Trust responds to the decision made by the UK Government on the future of the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme. Find out more about the decision and what this will mean for churches.