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.
Grade I Listed St Nicolas of Myra is tucked away in the south of England, in the village of Worth Matravers. It is one of the oldest churches in Dorset. 1000 years of stories and history. But all of that was almost destroyed when an urgent repair project was needed. Find out what happened and how you can help churches, like St Nicholas of Myra, who thought all hope was lost.
Earlier this year, the UK Government confirmed the end of Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. It will be replaced by a £92 million four-year-fund called the Places of Worship Renewal Fund. The future of churches is our biggest heritage challenge, and so it is positive that the UK Government wants to continue to invest in churches. Read our analysis below – on what’s been revealed so far about the Places of Worship Renewal Fund, how it compares to previous support from the UK Government, and what must happen for the scheme to be successful in keeping churches open and in use. Please note that some of these details may change when the new Fund is formally launched by Historic England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Sometimes, unexpected issues can hit your church. Repair bills in the tens or hundreds of thousands can ignite panic and stress for the people who care for your building. This was the feeling at Weston Green All Saints, when they discovered that it would cost almost £100,000 to carry out vital repairs. But a year later, the team had reached their goal and saved the church. This is how it unfolded.
More than half of churches in the UK distribute food to people in need. They provide an essential service and make a meaningful difference to people’s lives. But often, the need is great. And getting a project off the ground can take careful coordinating and a lot of work. Inverness Foodstuff – hosted at Ness Bank Church – has grown substantially since launching more than a decade ago. The project has provided tens of thousands of meals in that time and is changing lives in the city. So how has it achieved and sustained this success and managed to offer so much support to its local community?
Historic places of worship left stranded as Government money runs out before deadline and new scheme not up and running.
The UK Government has published its review of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. We’ve delved into the results and compared it with the Places of Worship Renewal Fund – a new grant that will replace the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme this year. Read our analysis on what this really means for historic churches – and don’t forget to share it with your friends.
From food banks and mental health drop-ins to parent and toddler groups and youth clubs, churches across the country provide essential community support. Dalmeny and Queensferry Parish Church on the outskirts of Edinburgh knew that the groups and activities they were hosting in their buildings were making a difference locally. And now, thanks to a new tool from the National Churches Trust, they have been able to calculate the value of this support – and use this information to incredible effect.
New data from Historic England shows that the public are largely unaware of who foots the bill for church repairs. 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. 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. Find out more about the new polling and what you can do to help.
Through our latest round of grants, we can reveal that more than £900,000 has been awarded to churches, chapels and meeting houses across the country, to keep these magnificent buildings open and in use. And we couldn’t do it without our Friends, donors, those who leave a legacy to the National Churches Trust, and our partner organisations. Thank you for supporting churches, so that they can keep the doors open. Read more about the churches helped to stay open.
The future of Wales' precious heritage could be lost if action is not taken. Around 25 per cent of historic chapels and churches have closed in the last decade. Find out what the National Churches Trust is doing on the ground to support places of worship in Wales.
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.
Looking after a historic church can be overwhelming at times – especially if it is in poor condition. Where do you start in order to bring the building back to life? St Macartan’s (The Forth Chapel) in Augher, Northern Ireland, commissioned a survey from a conservation accredited architect, which ended up being a catalyst. The need for repairs marked the start of a journey to increasing visitor numbers, regular maintenance being carried out, and an impressive Church of the Year award.
