Government Scheme Grants £42 Million to Aid Restoration of UK Churches in 2023

In 2023, the UK government allocated £42 million to the restoration of nearly 5,000 listed religious sites. The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which since 2010 has distributed £346 million, reimbursed the VAT incurred on renovation costs.

The most significant funding this year went to Leicester Cathedral, with over £600,000 used for restoration, including updating its heating, lighting, electrical systems, and establishing a heritage learning center. Following Richard III's reburial in 2015, visitor numbers soared, with the cathedral reopening in November after an initial two-year, £15 million refurbishment phase.

St Mary's Collegiate Church in Warwick, constructed in 1123 and reconstructed post-1694’s Great Fire, received £141,500 for tower repairs, including its clocks. Grants also enhanced the electrical and heating systems, and security across various locations, including the ancient Holy Trinity Cathedral in Chichester.

The smallest award, £29.01, went to St Peter’s Church in Clayworth, Nottinghamshire. Arts and Heritage Minister Stephen Parkinson highlighted the community impact of such buildings and their crucial role across faiths.

Out of over 39,000 UK church buildings, fundraising for maintenance typically falls on local congregations. The National Churches Trust notes the difficulty for churches, especially in deprived or rural areas, to afford urgent repairs, with over 900 listed as at risk by Historic England, and many more in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.