The Places of Worship Renewal Fund, a new Government grants fund for listed places of worship to help pay for capital works including fabric repairs and essential improvements, has been launched.
The Fund will be administered by Historic England and details of its remit and eligibility criteria can be found on its website: Places of Worship Renewal Fund | Historic England.
The £92 million scheme - £23 million a year over four years - is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and replaces the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme.
The Bishop of Lynn, Dr Jane Steen, the Church of England's deputy lead bishop for buildings, said:
"Our church buildings are national treasures for the common good, both for their spiritual, cultural and historical significance and the vital practical help they provide communities across the country.
"The majority of fundraising for the maintenance and repair of church buildings is done locally by thousands of wonderful volunteers. The Places of Worship Renewal Fund has a vital part to play alongside this local fundraising, and other funders who support churches.
“We welcome the launch of the Fund and we look forward to working closely with Historic England, in helping encourage eligible churches to make full use of the scheme."
The deadline for submitting Expressions of Interest for the first round of grants is Sunday 14 June 2026. A second round will follow soon after in September 2026.
Parishes with listed churches should take note of the guidance on the Historic England website and consider the eligibility criteria with regard to areas of deprivation and eligible works.
Please contact the church buildings team via churches@cofe-worcester.org.uk for an initial conversation if you think you would like to explore applying. The application process is expected to be proportionate to the size of grant that is applied for.
