Government urged to support nation’s historic churches

The Church of England is urging the federal government to step up financial support for historic churches and cathedrals after a recent poll by Savanta found that many individuals use and appreciate them. 

The poll of two,018 UK adults was commissioned by the Church of England and carried out on 15 and 16 November. 

It found that 43 per cent of adults had reported having contact with their local church. Of these, over half (53 per cent) said this was for services and worship, while nearly 1 / 4 (23 per cent) said it was to access some type of community support like parent toddler groups, lunch clubs or food banks. 

Four per cent of respondents said they used considered one of the nearly 8,000 food banks being run or supported by Church of England churches.

The poll revealed the love many Britons feel for historic cathedrals and churches, with over three quarters (77 per cent) calling them national treasures. 

Two in five (41 per cent) said that they had visited a church or cathedral to seek out a quiet space to wish or reflect, rising to half of young adults aged 18 to 34. 

Over half (59 per cent) agreed that the federal government should help historic churches manage the fee of repairs and maintenance. 

The Church of England has been pleading with the federal government to keep up a grant scheme that’s attributable to end in March next 12 months.

The Listed Places of Worship Grant (LPWG) scheme, introduced in 2001, allows for VAT grants on repairs of greater than £1,000 to be claimed for essential repairs and maintenance.

The government recently introduced a cap on claims at £25,000 per constructing, and it stays unclear whether the scheme might be prolonged beyond March 2026. 

The Church of England said that urgent repairs at around 260 churches and cathedrals have been put in danger due to the uncertainty. 

Nearly half (45 per cent) of Grade I listed buildings are Church of England properties, while over 12,500 of its church buildings have listed status.

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, said: “Our churches are at the center of our communities – not only as places of worship, but as spaces of warm welcome, history, and hope.

“This winter many might be a part of networks of winter shelters, and a whole lot might be signed up to supply Warm Spaces, providing help to people struggling to afford energy bills. In some areas they’re the one public buildings where people can come and gather together.

“The overwhelming majority of fundraising for our churches is completed locally by heroic volunteers and we’re deeply grateful for all they do. For greater than 20 years, they’ve relied on the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme to offer that crucial bit of additional help.

“This is a comparatively small investment by the Government in buildings which might be estimated to have an enormous social value. We urge the Government to make the scheme everlasting and lift the cap on claims.”

The Church of England’s lead bishop for church buildings, the Bishop of Ramsbury, Andrew Rumsey, said: “These recent survey results affirm the high value the British people placed on church buildings as places of service, sanctuary and heritage.

“Their broad appeal and vital role in social welfare underline the case for Governmental support in the shape of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which we urgently must proceed beyond the top of the present interim scheme in March 2026.”

Jo Kelly-Moore, Dean of St Albans and Chair of the Association of English Cathedrals, is looking on the federal government to support historic churches and cathedrals, and maintain the LPWG.

“The threat to finish the Listed Places of Worship Grant, and the cap currently imposed, is having a hugely negative impact on our cathedrals, a lot of which have long-term repair and renewal projects costing a whole lot of 1000’s of kilos, and yet these buildings, because the survey found, are our nation’s treasure houses,” she said. 

“They stand strong at the center of the nation at times of national sorrow and national celebration and offer a welcome  in any respect times to  people of all faiths and none.

“As we prepare for Advent and Christmas with full programmes of festive events, music, and worship,  across the nation we’ll welcome 1000’s of individuals into these sacred spaces to rejoice the best story of affection the world has ever known, we’ll offer care to many in need, come alongside those that find this time a difficult one, and offer people a spot to reflect and find hope, while at the identical time facing the challenge of keeping our doors open and our cathedrals warm.”