Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has said that, should her party win the subsequent election, it will restore a funding scheme for historic churches.
The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme was first established in 2001 and gave historic churches an exemption from paying VAT on repairs.
Before announcing the top of the scheme, the present government almost halved its budget to £23 million, meaning it ran out of cash ahead of its formal closure at the top of March.
The scheme was replaced by the Places of Worship Renewal Fund, however the Church of England has warned that the change could mean “added pressure on local fundraisers and inevitably a drain on other sources of funding”.
The National Churches Trust called the scheme “a lifeline for historic churches” and said the changes put their future in danger.
Scottish church leaders also raised their objections last month, with the Church of Scotland’s Rosie Frew, saying, “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.”
Posting on X over Easter, Badenoch said that restoring the fund was a sign that her party took Britain’s Christian heritage seriously.
“Britain is a Christian country. The Conservative Party will all the time have fun our Christian heritage with deeds, not only words,” she said.
Badenoch, who’s herself an agnostic, said that churches represented community hubs and native pride, in addition to being places of worship.
“It is critical we maintain them properly, because once they’re gone, this history and heritage might be lost ceaselessly,” she said.
Support for Britain’s Christian heritage has recently turn into a more popular talking point amongst Britain’s right leaning political parties. As well because the Conservatives, each Reform UK and Restore Britain have spoken in regards to the importance of the country’s Christian Heritage.
However, all parties are also led by individuals who have shown very minimal commitment to private Christianity. Kemi Badenoch is an agnostic, Rupert Lowe has never publicly commented on whether he has any personal faith, while Nigel Farage appears to be an Anglican who rarely goes to church.
Source: https://www.christiantoday.com/news/kemi-badenoch-pledges-to-restore-historic-church-funding-scheme
