Chris Bryant, Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism, has made a written statement on the continuation of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, as follows:
“The Government is extending the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme until 31 March 2026, the end of this Spending Review period. This will continue to enable religious organisations to claim grants covering eligible VAT costs paid towards repairs and renovations.
Nearly £350 million has been awarded under the scheme since 2010, supporting listed churches, synagogues, mosques and temples across the UK. The scheme receives around 7,000 applications a year, of which more than 70% are for £5,000 or less.
Against a tough financial background and bearing in mind a wide range of competing priorities for expenditure within DCMS, we have made the difficult decision to implement an annual limit of £25,000 on the amount individual places of worship can claim in the coming year, and to limit the fund to £23 million. We believe that this will continue the widest distribution of the scheme’s benefits within the available means. Based on previous scheme data we expect 94% of claims to be unaffected by this change.
Places of worship are a key part of our built heritage, central to local communities’ wellbeing, pride in place and identity. In addition to the benefits to their congregations, listed places of worship often also provide facilities for the wider community including foodbanks, community halls and music venues and rehearsal spaces. I am pleased that despite the challenging fiscal context we are able to continue the scheme for a further year.”
As one of the 6% who will be affected, this is devastating. It calls into question the viability of much of the project we have been working towards for over 10 years, unless we can somehow raise the best part of £400k extra – not likely in a tiny community.