National Churches Trust staff with Canon Barry English outside St Illtyd Grade II Listed Church in Dowlais, Wales.

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.

Watch the video to find out more

Hear from two brilliants churches whose future has been put at risk due to the changes to the scheme. And find out how you can help us save church buildings across the country. 

The most important thing you can do is write to your MP

Even if you have already written to your MP, please consider writing again. The Department of Culture, Media and Sport will be making a decision on this soon, so any letters received now will have an impact on their decision. Losing this scheme would be disastrous for listed places of worship of all faiths across the UK.

View our template letter

  • Over 13000 places of worship

    have benefitted from this scheme and have been supported in keeping their buildings windproof and watertight, safeguarding the future of some of our most important local heritage.

  • In 2023 326 listed churches

    that applied for grants from us were eligible to receive this vital refund of VAT to help towards projects ranging from restoring crumbling towers to fixing a leaking roof.

  • 20 per cent increase in costs

    that places of worship will have to bear if the scheme is scrapped. This would be a devastating blow for churches, many of which are already struggling with the high cost of keeping their buildings open and in good repair.

About the scheme and its changes

The UK Government has decided:

  • The Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme will be renewed for one year – until 2026,
  • A spending cap will now apply. There is now a limit of £25,000 that can be claimed through the scheme,
  • The overall budget of the scheme has been reduced by almost half to £23 million. 

The scheme offers tremendous value for money. For every £1 invested in a church building, £16 of social good is generated. We strongly believe that the scheme should be made permanent – it's vital to help these buildings stay open, serving local people, and it’s the poorest and most isolated who will suffer most if these buildings are forced to close.

We will continue to work with the Government to ensure the value of these buildings is understood.

We are not going anywhere. As the leading UK church heritage charity, we will be doing all we can to urge the Government to make this scheme permanent and reverse the cuts and the budget cap.  

The latest news and updates on the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme

Find out more
Rows of wooden pews with stone arched columns rising up on the right hand side. There's a stained glass window at the back of the photo and a woman stands on a ladder looking out. Interior of St Margaret Antioch
Ioan Said

Decision time for the Department of Culture, Media & Sport: will they spend their budget on helping churches?

The details of the Spending Review have been announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The Department of Culture, Media & Sport [DCMS] has been given a £7.5 billion 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. Read more.

The Guardian logo

In the Guardian

Harriet Sherwood at the Guardian shares how churches fear new tax rules - the changes to the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme - will put major restoration programmes at listed places of worship in jeopardy. Sir Philip Rutnam, chair of the National Churches Trust, contributes to the article.

The Express logo

In the Daily Express

Sir Philip Rutnam, Chair of the National Churches Trust, writes for the Daily Express about how changes to The Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme have hit churches hard. He makes the case that if you want to protect our nation’s heritage and secure its future, the best thing to do is write to your MP about the scheme.

Philip Rutnam at Ride+Stride
Philip Rutnam

Sir Philip Rutnam writes to the Treasury

Read the letter Sir Philip Rutnam, Chair of the National Churches Trust, sent to the Treasury in which he calls for the UK Government to renew the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme. You can also use it as a template to contact your own MP.

Larling St Ethelbert undergoing building repairs
Matthew Welch

Autumn Budget: important update for UK churches

In her Autumn Budget, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves made no announcement about the extension of the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme. This is concerning – and why we need your help. Find a template letter here to help you write to your MP.

Please write to your MP

Even if you have already written to your MP, please consider writing again. Losing this scheme would be disastrous for listed places of worship of all faiths across the UK. Thank you for your support.

View our template letter