45 churches and chapels across the UK will collectively receive £463,000 of extra funding before Christmas from the National Churches Trust. 

Eddie Tulasiewicz, head of communications at The National Churches Trust, told Premier the funding is especially significant this year due to the impact of the pandemic on the church finances.

"Quite often churches rely on weekly collections from people who go to church every week" he said. 

"That's not to say that people haven't been generous by giving online. But people coming in and giving money each week is a sizable part of the money that churches get.

"A lot of churches have things like church halls, or they hire out the premises to other organisations. Because of Covid, they haven't been able to do that, so parish churches have been struggling."

Among the churches which will benefit are Hull Minster, which will get £50,000 to help re-roof part of the Grade I listed church, and the Church of Holy Name of Jesus in Manchester, which will receive £25,000 to fund roof repairs and preservation work.

So far this year, The National Churches Trust has allocated £1,723,000 via 260 grants, an increase of 72 versus last year.

Speaking about whether Covid-19 would have lasting damage on church finances, Eddie Tulasiewicz said he believes next year money will continue to be tight and that a debate on the importance of church buildings will occur. 

"People say 'everything can be done on zoom now', you know, online worship. That's good for people who want to do online but not everybody wants to do online. So, next year, decisions are going to be made and we think the decision should be: let's keep as many of these church buildings."

Grants will continue to fund projects at churches, chapels and meeting houses in 2021. Applications can be made by other Christian places of worship in the UK that are open for regular worship.