Background
L&RUK has reported on developments in the Listed Places of Worship Fund (“the Fund”) since 2017 when it was announced that it would continue at its current levels until March 2020, with no changes planned to the eligibility criteria or application process. In March 2025, Harlow Consulting issued a questionnaire aimed at those responsible for looking after listed places of worship. The user survey was conducted on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as part of an evaluation of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.
On 22 January 2026, the Government announced a £1.5 billion package of support for “cultural organisations” over the coming five years, with “£230 million for heritage, protecting and preserving heritage buildings, including listed places of worship, across the country”. Specifically in relation to places of worship:
“In recognition of the important role religious heritage buildings play in the UK’s national story, a new £92 million fund called the Places of Worship Renewal Fund will replace the £23 million Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme and bring these important buildings into line with other heritage assets. It will give them access to the same level of financial support from the Government as historic houses, monuments and other heritage sites.”
At the same time, DCMS published Evaluation of the Listed Places of Worship Scheme – Final Report. This concluded that “in most cases the grant is contributing directly to securing more repair and maintenance to listed places of worship”.
Recent Developments
On 19 May 2026, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) issued the Press Release Leaking church roofs to be fixed and heritage buildings revitalised as applications open for £48 million of heritage funding. This explained: “[p]art of the wider £1.5 billion Arts Everywhere Fund, these investments will be targeted at areas of high deprivation, which face the greatest fundraising challenges”.
More informative was the subtitle “Three heritage funds have opened for Expressions of Interest, including the new £92 million Places of Worship Renewal Fund, as well as the second rounds of the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund and Heritage Revival Fund“. These are summarized below.
Places of Worship Renewal Fund
Offering up to £23 million this year, the new Places of Worship Renewal Fund will support a range of small to large projects, from urgent structural repairs to physical access improvements and the installation of new facilities to expand community use. A further £69 million will be made available across the course of this parliament.
Listed places of worship across the country have reported falling behind on structural repairs and maintenance, with those in areas of high deprivation facing overwhelming challenges to fundraising for the capital costs of building works. The Places of Worship Renewal Fund targets those areas of the greatest need, helping remove previously insurmountable financial barriers to crucial repairs with upfront capital grants. It is open to listed places of worship serving all faiths.
The new funding scheme brings listed places of worship in line with the funding opportunities that other heritage buildings enjoy, with confirmation of the scheme for the next four years providing much-needed certainty to the church sector. The scheme will be delivered by Historic England, who have well developed relationships across the sector and can draw on their depth of experience to support communities and volunteers with projects of all sizes.
Heritage at Risk Capital Fund
A second round of the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund has opened for Expressions of Interest, backing projects that ensure heritage buildings are fit for the future and continue to tell our national story in communities across the country. The fund prioritises projects that restore heritage sites serving disadvantaged communities and which demonstrate strong local benefits, from job creation to cultural events.
Up to £15 million in funding is available to at-risk heritage sites this year, as part of a total £75 million Heritage at Risk Capital Fund. Note however, that that “Private dwellings, places of worship and commercial buildings are only exceptionally considered“.
Heritage Revival Fund
The Heritage Revival Fund has also opened applications to its second round, with funding doubling to £10 million per year. The fund – worth £45 million in total – helps communities to rescue and repurpose neglected historic buildings and transform them to meet modern needs, focusing on regenerating historic buildings in town centre locations to create new arts and culture venues, workspaces, affordable housing, and more.
Comment
The Church of England has issued the Press Release New listed places of worship fund launched which notes: “[s]ome types of work attract a zero or lower rate of VAT and there is an introduction to these here: Understanding VAT Zero‑Rating for Church Works | The Church of England.
Further information has also been published by Historic England .