Scottish religious leaders welcome new £1 million historic building repair fund

Church leaders in Scotland have expressed support for the newly established Scotland Places of Worship Fund, which provides £1 million to assist with the maintenance and repair of listed religious buildings. Administered by Historic Environment Scotland, the grant allows congregations to recover VAT costs incurred during repair projects. The initiative follows concerns regarding the financial viability of historic church properties after the UK government ended the previous Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.

The Rt Rev Gordon Kennedy, Moderator of the Church of Scotland, noted that the funding will assist local volunteers in keeping buildings functional and preserved for the wider community. Bishop John Keenan, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Scotland, also welcomed the pilot program, highlighting the role of churches in Scotland’s heritage. Church officials previously warned that the loss of the former UK-wide grant scheme threatened the future of many historic sites, with some congregations already facing the closure of long-standing cathedrals due to financial pressures.