In a move to aid the preservation of historic buildings, church leaders in Scotland have expressed their approval of a new £1 million fund dedicated to repairs of listed places of worship. This initiative addresses growing concerns about funding for maintaining these structures.
The issue gained prominence after the cessation of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS) was announced by Labour earlier this year. The previous scheme’s end left many church leaders worried about potential financial strain on maintaining historic churches. A replacement scheme is in place, but with reduced funding and no VAT exemption for repair works.
Rev Rosie Frew, former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, had previously cautioned that the discontinuation of the LPWGS could jeopardize the sustainability of church properties. Recently, financial challenges led to the transfer of a centuries-old cathedral to a community trust, highlighting the issue’s urgency. More details on that transition can be found here.
The newly introduced £1 million Scotland Places of Worship Fund is part of Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES) grants budget and offers religious organizations the ability to recover VAT expenses on repair work for listed worship buildings. This fund has been met with approval from both the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church in Scotland.
Rt Rev Gordon Kennedy, current Moderator of the Church of Scotland, expressed his gratitude, stating, “I’m very grateful for the support of HES and the Scottish Government in recognising the importance of places of worship, which are so often cherished by people beyond members of the congregation.”
He added, “We know how difficult it is for communities to lose their place of worship and support for repairs and maintenance will help keep more places warm, wind and watertight, and it makes it just a wee bit easier for local volunteers to care for these historic assets.”
Bishop John Keenan, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, shared similar sentiments, saying, “We warmly welcome Historic Environment Scotland’s announcement of the Places of Worship Fund pilot for Scotland, which recognises the vital contribution that churches and other places of worship make to Scotland’s heritage and community life.”
“The fund will provide much-needed support for the care and conservation of these important buildings, helping to address the loss of the previous UK-wide scheme,” he concluded.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
