National Churches Trust warns of maintenance crisis for UK historic churches

The National Churches Trust has reported that historic UK church buildings face increasing financial strain despite distributing over £2.6 million in grants during 2025. The charity supported 326 projects across 252 places of worship, helping 12 sites exit the Heritage at Risk Register. However, leadership at the Trust expressed significant concern regarding the recent abolition of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS).

The LPWGS previously allowed listed churches to reclaim VAT on repair costs. Following its replacement in England by the Places of Worship Renewal Fund, the Trust warns that churches now face an additional 20% cost on maintenance projects. Sir Philip Rutnam and Claire Walker noted that this change could lead to scaled-back projects or potential closures. Furthermore, the Trust highlighted that the new funding model is restricted to England, leaving historic sites in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland without equivalent support.