In the heart of the UK’s architectural heritage lies a pressing issue: the protection and maintenance of historic places of worship. Advocates are urging the government to make a crucial funding scheme permanent to aid these historic structures in their ongoing battle against decay.
The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee has raised alarms over the potential risks to the nation’s historic churches if the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS) is not made a permanent fixture. The committee has called for the removal of a recent £25,000 cap on claims and a thorough review of the scheme’s current budget.
The committee argues that the existing cap and the temporary nature of funding are causing significant uncertainty for long-term repair projects, which require extensive planning over several years. This situation exacerbates the challenges faced by listed churches and their communities, who are already under pressure to maintain these buildings.
In a letter addressed to heritage minister Baroness Twycross, Dame Caroline Dinenage, Chair of the Committee, highlights that “45% of the UK’s Grade I buildings are owned by the Church of England,” underscoring their role as communal spaces for social and charitable activities.
The letter further states that the temporary funding is “not fit” for the sector’s needs, creating anxiety among volunteers and deterring projects that cannot rely on consistent support from the scheme. “The scheme is welcome recognition of the role of churches and their contribution to our heritage, but without certainty over its future many repair and refurbishment projects are at risk of never getting off the ground,” Dame Dinenage explained.
She urged the government to ensure the scheme’s permanence and remove the cap to allow historic places of worship to focus on their vital community work.
Recently, during an inquiry into protecting built heritage, the committee heard testimony from Emily Gee, the Church of England’s Director for Cathedral and Church Buildings, and Rev Paula Griffiths, a former director in the same role.
Emily Gee welcomed Dame Dinenage’s advocacy, emphasizing the scheme’s “huge importance” in maintaining historic cathedrals and church buildings. “The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme has been a lifeline for places of worship,” she stated, highlighting the need for reliable funding sources.
Gee noted that the current uncertainty surrounding the LPWGS is pressuring church communities into additional fundraising or scaling back essential repair schemes. She stressed that ongoing maintenance saves money in the long term, and VAT relief is crucial to enabling such works.
Gee also quoted a diocese which pointed out that “funding into built heritage will multiply to wider community benefits,” including support for food pantries, youth work, and mental health groups.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
