£23 million government package to support restoration of thousands of listed places of worship

Heritage Minister Sir Chris Bryant has announced that the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme will be extended into the next financial year, providing £23 million so that thousands of historical buildings, including churches, synagogues, mosques and temples, can carry out restoration work. 

The scheme gives grants towards VAT paid on repairs and renovations to the UK’s listed sites of worship, such as works to the foundations, masonry and monuments integral to the buildings. 

The extension of the scheme recognises that listed places of worship represent an important part of UK heritage, and provide spaces for communities to come together.

There will be a cap of £25,000 that an organisation can claim during the year. This can still be spread across multiple claims. 

Nearly £350 million has been awarded under the scheme to date, supporting listed churches, synagogues, mosques and temples across the UK.

Heritage Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: "There are many reasons to care for our faith buildings. They matter to faith communities, they provide a range of vital services to the public regardless of faith or background and many of them are architecturally stunning.

"I am delighted that despite the tough fiscal challenges we face, we are able to keep this scheme going for a further year to support faith buildings in every part of the country."

Listed places of worship of any size or faith within the UK can apply to the scheme for support with repairs and renovations until the end of March 2026.  

Applicants can now complete and submit their application to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme directly online via the website at listed-places-of-worship-grant.dcms.gov.uk/application-form/.

A downloadable version of the application form remains available for applicants who wish to complete and submit in writing, and the Welsh version of the application form can be also be accessed via the website. It is important that potential applicants check their eligibility before submitting an application. To be eligible for the scheme the place of worship must be listed with the relevant statutory listing agency. Applicants can check their listing by searching the databases at Historic England, Historic Environment Scotland, Cadw (for Wales) or the Historic Environment Division in the Department for Communities (Northern Ireland).

Listings carried out by local councils are not acceptable within the scheme.  Claims will only be considered for repairs to buildings that are listed at the time the work is carried out.

In its explanation of the process, the DCMS says: “If your claim is returned because we cannot identify your listing, it does not necessarily mean that the place of worship is not listed – it may mean that the details recorded at the time of listing differ slightly to those on the application. You should return your application together with paperwork to show your listing with the relevant statutory listing agency. 

“Part of our approval process is to check against the statutory records that your building is formally listed; however, if you do not know the listing grade or category you can leave that field blank in your application.”