New research shows strong public backing for Government help to repair historic churches, as national church leaders urge the Chancellor to protect a key scheme funding essential maintenance.
A Savanta poll for the Church of England reveals that 59 per cent of UK adults believe the Government should contribute towards the cost of repairing historic places of worship. The findings underline how highly the public values church buildings, with 77 per cent describing them as “local and national treasures”.
The survey also highlights the role churches continue to play in everyday community life. Forty-three per cent of adults say they have had some contact with their local church, whether for worship, community groups or support services. Around 2.8 million people have visited a church food bank, and 41 per cent have stepped inside a church simply to find a quiet space for reflection or prayer, rising to half of all 18 to 34-year-olds.
Against this backdrop of strong national support, the future of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme is unclear. The scheme, which refunds VAT on essential repair work, saw its annual budget reduced from £42m to £23m this year, with claims capped at £25,000 per building. The temporary arrangement ends in March, and the Government has not yet confirmed whether it will be renewed.
The Church of England, responsible for 45 per cent of the UK's Grade I listed buildings, has warned that around 260 repair projects are already at risk due to rising costs and the cap. One example is St Laurence Church in Chorley, an 800-year-old building central to extensive social action work, which has had to postpone vital roof repairs, adding hundreds of thousands of pounds to the cost.
Most Rev Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, said the survey strengthens the case for continued funding. “Our churches are at the heart of our communities – not only as places of worship, but as spaces of warm welcome, history, and hope,” he said. “This winter many will be part of networks of winter shelters and Warm Spaces, providing help to people struggling to afford energy bills. In some areas they are the only public buildings where people can come and gather together.”
He urged the Government to make the scheme permanent, warning that without it, churches may struggle to keep their buildings open and serving their communities.
