Over the last few years, churches have been a lifeline during the cost-of-living crisis by offering their building as a ‘warm space’ for their community to use. But with rising temperatures, churches can also be a refuge away from the heat; a cool space.
"Churches understand the needs of their community, and it is great to see them pivot and try something new in order to help local people," says Claire Walker, Chief Executive of the National Churches Trust.
"We're seeing churches offering refreshments and a place to meet friends away from the heat, as well as running tours of their building as an activity people can do.
Grants from the National Churches Trust are making it possible for more churches to offer greater hospitality to all. Not only do our grants require churches to be open outside of worship – at least 100 days per year – but our Large Grants for facilities make the church more inviting to visitors.
This is because as well as essential repairs, our Large Grants fund adding in accessible toilets and the upgrading or installing of a kitchen or servery area. This can mean churches can have running water for the first time in centuries and gives churches a sustainable future as they can more easily host people and run events for their communities. This can also bring in a regular income stream for the church too, should they want to hire spaces in the building out for others to use.
Open for visitors: making a medieval church fit for modern times
St Nicholas, located in the village of St Nicholas in the Vale of Glamorgan, has been throwing open its doors to help people not only avoid the heat, but to enjoy a bit of hospitality and history too.
Visitors can enjoy the following that’s on offer to see for free at the stunning medieval church:
▪️The 80ft tower
▪️A 13th century octagonal font with pre-Reformation masonic markings
▪️A pre-Reformation Sanctus Bell – rare for Vale Churches
▪️The Dane organ – one of only three built and the last to survive in its original form, which dates back to 1875
▪️A pulpit designed by William Burgess – considered one of the greatest Victorian architects.
A fun fact about the church: it is a navigation point for Bristol Channel seafarers due to its prominent tower. St Nicholas church was used as shelter for Owain Glyndwr’s troops before the Battle of Stalling Down in 1403. It was also a gathering point for Royalists before the Battle of St Fagan’s in 1648.
The area is a hub for walkers and cyclists with the church at the centre of the village; nearby are Dyffryn Gardens Country House – a National Trust property – and the neolithic burial chamber in Tinkinswood (around 1,000 years older than Stonehenge!). These are all connected by public footpaths – making them an ideal day out.
Relevant and sustainable
In 2025, a large grant awarded by the National Churches Trust helped make some of the hospitality you'll see today possible. On the recommendation of the National Churches Trust, the church received a £50,000 grant from the Moondance Foundation, for a new kitchen and the installation of an accessible toilet, which has transformed this church into a welcoming space and one that will make the church sustainable for years to come.
“This funding from the National Churches Trust provided the key which will open the door for our church to reach out to the second half of the 21st century," shared Sally Carnall, Chair of the St Nicholas Church Committee, at the time of receiving the grant.
"Like many rural churches we face the risk of irrelevance to all but the few who arrive every Sunday. We needed to be able to modernise our facilities and expand our role in the community.”
St Nicholas is just one example of a church, thanks to our Friends, those who leave a legacy to the National Churches Trust, and our partner organisations, that we have been able to support that can now do so much more for its community.
Explore churches this summer
Do you want a cool place to visit this summer? Why not pop into your local church – or plan a day out or weekend away to one further afield.
We have a church finder on our website, which will help you to find a brilliant place to visit. Whether you're wanting to see some spectacular stained glass, magnificent memorials, or explore a church with famous connections, we've got you covered.
The tool is simple to use and are filters you can use to help you narrow down what you're looking for – whether that's a church in a specific location, whether there's a bus stop, train station, pub or café nearby and if there's accessible access and toilets.
"We find the tool useful and hope you discover some wonderful new treasures to visit," concludes Claire Walker. "And please do not forget to thank the volunteers when you visit, who behind the scenes will be opening the church, maintaining it and making it a beautiful and welcoming space for you to experience and enjoy."
