The latest news about church heritage including how to save it, things to look out for and interesting places to visit. You'll also find stories from churches, chapels and meeting houses from across the UK sharing about the wonderful ways they are keeping their buildings open and in use.
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. Please write to your MP today to urge them to renew the scheme to help churches stay open and in good repair.
The National Churches Trust is concerned that the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme will not be renewed before the scheme comes to an end in 2025. Sir Philip Rutnam, Chair of the National Churches Trust, writes to the Treasury to ask them to renew this vital scheme.
Churches, chapels and meeting houses are at serious risk of closure and so it is important to look at creative solutions to keep these buildings open and in use for generations to come. Cherish is helping us to target support at key areas where we are at great risk of losing priceless heritage.
58 churches across the UK will stay open and in good repair thanks to £735,326 – almost three quarters of a million pounds – of funding awarded and recommended by the National Churches Trust in our latest round of grants.
In person church attendance can fall by almost a third (29%) if a local church closes, a new opinion poll commissioned by the National Churches Trust shows, with 22% of churchgoers who currently attend religious services in person unwilling or unable to worship in a different church and a further 7% saying they would only attend services online.
The new Government inherits a country with stressed public finances and strained public services. Imagination, ingenuity and leadership are all going to be needed – and whatever happens to taxes, the state will be in no position to solve every problem. But there is one national resource, sometimes overlooked by politicians and policy makers that can help: the UK’s network of 38,500 churches and chapels.
Right now, many church buildings are in danger of closure, putting at risk amazing heritage and support for local people. But you can help turn this around. The General Election on 4 July gives us all a chance to say how important churches are and what help we need from the next UK Government to keep these wonderful buildings open and in good repair.
We are delighted to confirm that His Majesty King Charles III has accepted Patronage of the National Churches Trust. This follows on from the late Queen Elizabeth II, who served as Patron of the National Churches Trust from 1953 until 2022.
We’re pleased to share that 43 churches across the UK will stay open and in good repair thanks to £478,110 of funding awarded and recommended by the National Churches Trust in this latest round of grants.
Throughout his life, Lord Patrick Cormack was committed to helping churches. We wanted to share some of the different ways that Lord Cormack made a difference and helped to keep churches open and in use across the UK and the lasting legacy he leaves today.
Forty historic UK churches and chapels have been saved for the future thanks to £496,625 of funding awarded and recommended by the National Churches Trust in this latest round of grants.
Thirty-three churches across the UK will stay open and in good repair thanks to £473,750 of funding awarded by the National Churches Trust in our latest round of grants.
