Trust welcomes Government’s repair fund for listed churches

The National Churches Trust has welcomed £15 million of funding to help pay for repairs to roofs and rainwater goods for the UK's listed churches.

The funding was announced by the Rt Hon George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Government's annual Autumn Statement to Parliament on 3 December 2014.

Luke March, Chairman of the National Churches Trust said: “The announcement of a £15 million Roof Repair Fund for the UK’s churches will be warmly welcomed by communities across the country. Churches, chapels and meeting houses are some of the most beautiful buildings in the country and this funding will help to bring more of them back to their full glory."

"The National Churches Trust particularly welcomes the fact that this funding will be available to listed churches throughout the United Kingdom. It is a welcome recognition by the government of the desperate needs of many of these buildings and the extra money will make headway in tackling the vital repairs needed – which have been estimated at over £60 million for the Church of England’s listed churches alone."

"As well as being so important to the UK’s heritage, churches do much to support local people, being used for many community activities such as playgroups, lunch clubs and cultural events. That’s why the National Churches Trust, together with other funders such as the Heritage Lottery Fund, will continue to fund urgent repairs to keep the UK’s churches open."

"Churches may be historic buildings. But they also need to be part of our future. “

For more information see: www.nationalchurchestrust.org/