The House of Good research

Churches provide so many essential services for communities across the UK. From youth groups to foodbanks, they help to support the wellbeing of millions of people, including the most vulnerable in society.

The House of Good is our groundbreaking research, which measures the value of all of these services to the country.

Our first The House of Good report published in 2020, using HM Treasury Green Book methodology, showed that the economic and social value of churches was £12.4 billion per year. But later research in 2021 showed that the figure was significantly higher than first thought.

When HM Treasury updated guidance in The Green Book, we recalculated the figures. The new method showed that churches actually provide £55 billion social benefit to the UK – every year.

The impact of churches

£ 55 billion

of social value is enabled by UK churches every year
Over £ 16 of social good

is created in communities by £1 invested in churches

People sitting at tables inside a church

The House of Good report summarised

Learn about how The House of Good figures are calculated and what it means for UK churches.

The House of Good 2020

Download and read the original The House of Good report, calculating the social value of church buildings in the UK.

Cover image of House of Good update report

The House of Good 2021 update

Download The House of Good 2021 update, based on changes to Treasury methods for assessing social value.

YorkshireWESTBOWLINGStStephen(storyebookCC-BY-SA4.0)1 — Storyebook

Watch the videos

Find out about some of the work churches are doing to support communities with our series of short video clips.

Church buildings are in crisis

Despite the huge value that churches provide, none gets guaranteed funding. Without national or government funding, church buildings are falling into disrepair and facing closure at a record rate.

But we are speaking up for churches. Every Church Counts is a blueprint of how churches can be saved for the future.

We are calling on the UK Government, heritage organisations and Christian denominations to work together to tackle the UK’s single biggest heritage challenge.

Our plan is the starting point for a national conversation on the future of church buildings. And we would love you to be a part of it.

Find out more about Every Church Counts

More The House of Good research

Three graphics in a row on a red background

The House of Good: Health

Our The House of Good: Health research show that the UK’s churches take an immense amount of pressure off the NHS and provide essential support services that it would cost an extra £8.4 billion a year to deliver.

Three people serve soup inside a church — Ruth Towell

The House of Good: Local

Our new calculator will help you put a figure to the amount of social value generated by activities at your church, chapel or meeting house. This is useful for funding applications, to motivate volunteers and to increase support for your place of worship.

A woman standing behind a music stand, singing — Push Creativity

The value of music and community groups

This new research goes beyond the scope of the original The House of Good report, to focus on two further types of activities that are hosted by churches and benefit many in society.