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Rt Rev Rosie Frew, the Moderator of the Church of Scotland General Assembly. (Photo: Church of Scotland)
Christian leaders in Scotland have said that the premature end of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS) may have a severe impact on churches attempting to take care of their buildings.
Just last week an analogous warning was made by the National Churches Trust, which said that the tip of the scheme “leaves potentially a whole lot of churches within the lurch”.
The LPWGS was first established in 2001 by the then Chancellor Gordon Brown. Under the scheme historic churches were exempt from paying VAT on repairs. Initially intended as an interim measure, the scheme was essentially renewed by every government, that’s until Sir Keir Starmer got here to power.
The scheme was because of come to an end on 31 March and get replaced by the Places of Worship Renewal Fund (PWRF). However, not only did Labour announce the tip of the LPWGS, in addition they nearly halved its budget, meaning the cash has already run out.
The NCT said that the PWRF was not yet up and running, had the identical reduced budget and added tax burdens that previously didn’t exist.
The Scottish Church Leaders’ Forum has also expressed its concerns. In a letter to culture minister Lisa Nandy, the forum said the abrupt ending of the LPWGS would “severely affect community efforts to repair roofs, maintain ageing heating systems and hold back damp”.
One of the signatories of the letter was the Rt Rev Rosie Frew, moderator of the Church of Scotland General Assembly.
The Church of Scotland has over 1,100 listed properties, and Rev Frew noted that the ending of the scheme was a threat to the continued viability of some its buildings. Already various the Church’s historic buildings have been sold because of changing demographics and unsustainable costs.
She said, “We were surprised to learn, via a press release, that LPWGS is being closed at the tip of the month and really upset that this decision was taken with none formal consultation with religious denominations in Scotland.
“The UK Government announced a substitute grant scheme for England only at the tip of January and the UK Government appears to not have informed the Scottish Government prior to this unexpected announcement.”
She is searching for “urgent clarification and assurances” that funding will proceed to be available in Scotland for essential repairs to listed church buildings.
She added that churches represented not only cultural architecture but “living, respiration spaces at the center of communities” that provide helpful services, particularly for those in need.
However, she said that financial pressures may result in more historic churches being sold.
“We acknowledge the present budgetary constraints facing all levels of presidency, but listed churches will not be simply about curating cultural architecture, they’re essential centres for the entire community,” she continued.
“They reside, respiration spaces at the center of communities, the length and breadth of Scotland, and play a significant role in community life, hosting social motion/outreach work including foodbanks, activities for schools, young people and the elderly.
“The decision to finish LPWGS will impact current repair projects in addition to ending a scheme which has been vital over a few years, and without will add further financial burdens to congregations and the Church as an entire.
“The Church has been forced to sell many historic and beloved buildings in recent times because we are able to’t afford to maintain and run them, because of changing demographics and behavior patterns.
“Sadly, the chances are this move will make further disposals occur sooner.”
Rev Frew and Scottish Catholic leader, Rt Rev John Keenan, can be taking their concerns to Kirsty McNeil MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland, at a gathering on 10 March.
Keenan said the funding gap may have a “massive impact” on larger projects at Catholic churches in Scotland.
“One of our eight dioceses alone has estimated that it’ll stand to lose over £100,000 every year on the routine maintenance works that it carries out on its listed churches,” he said.
“In areas of deprivation where the environment is falling into depopulation and decline, the open doors of the local church and the sunshine shining from inside, is a source of solidarity, consolation and hope for the community that is still.”
Source: https://www.christiantoday.com/news/christian-leaders-raise-alarm-over-end-of-repairs-funding-scheme
