(Photo: Diocese of Sheffield)
In a significant boost to the preservation of historic religious architecture, 37 Church of England churches have been granted over £13 million from the newly established Places of Worship Renewal Fund (PWRF). This funding comes in the wake of the discontinuation of the previous Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS), a change that has sparked both relief and concern within the community.
The PWRF was introduced after the government, led by Sir Keir Starmer, decided to cut and subsequently abolish the LPWGS, which originated during Gordon Brown’s tenure as chancellor. A major distinction between the two schemes is that the former provided an exemption from VAT on repairs for historic churches.
When the LPWGS changes were first announced, the National Churches Trust (NCT) raised alarms, stating that the shift “is likely to mean that projects are cancelled or scaled back, leading to more churches being at risk of closure and further damage to historic buildings.”
Following the announcement of the initial funding round for the PWRF, Andrew Rumsey, the Church of England’s lead bishop for buildings, expressed mixed feelings. He was “very glad” for the churches that received funding but remained “conscious” of those still lacking the desired support.
Rumsey commented, “These grants, to churches in areas of considerable need, will help pay for fabric repairs that enable worship, missional and social action to continue in our communities. They will relieve some of the fundraising burden felt by heroic local volunteers who care for our country’s built heritage.”
The grants varied significantly, with most churches receiving amounts in the six-figure range. The smallest grant, £24,870, went to the Church of All Saints in Weymouth, while the largest, £973,632, was awarded to the Church of St Catherine of Siena in Sheffield.
Though the Church of England churches received 37 of the 51 grants, totaling £13 million of the £18 million fund, other religious sites also benefited. Recipients included two Catholic churches in Liverpool, a synagogue in Grimsby, and the Primitive Methodist Church in St Ives.
Heritage minister Baroness Twycross remarked on the importance of preserving these structures, stating, “Nothing tells the stories of our nation quite like the historic buildings at the heart of our communities. But too often they are a far cry from their former glory with leaking roofs and crumbling stonework. Thanks to this funding, the much-loved buildings that fill our hometowns with character will be keeping the doors open to communities for years to come.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
