The Trust, now in its 35th year, has up to April 2026 awarded over 450 grants worth in excess of £1,500,000 to more than 200 churches and chapels. The grants made over the last 3 years to 80 churches and chapels (totalling over £340,000) have averaged £4,284.69. This compares with the average, since its foundation, which now stands at around £3,000. Rarely is the SHCT the only grant provider, churches having to search diligently for other sources to raise substantial sums, with the hope that the Heritage Lottery Fund will come to their rescue.
The work that our churches most often need is repair to the fabric: stone, brick, slate and wood. With our unforgiving wet climate, leaking roofs, defective gutters, down-pipes and drains feature more than anything. Our advice is to seek help early from the Trust to prevent small problems becoming big ones.
We are increasingly being asked to consider grant applications to make churches more welcoming and accessible. These include lighting, heating, access ramps and paths, notice boards, kitchens and toilets. We are pleased to help congregations to encourage greater use of their buildings.
Please click here to view the grants awarded in 2026
Please click here to view the grants awarded in 2025
How to Apply for a Grant
Requests for grants must be made to the Grants Administrator (details below) on the new application form, updated March 2026.
Please read carefully the preceding, accompanying notes before submitting an application. The form is automatically downloaded by clicking on the above link.
***The form automatically downloads when the link above is clicked. If you don't get a prompt, please check your downloads folder***
The Trust will assist churches and chapels that are listed buildings or are of historical or architectural interest, and are used for Christian worship or ceremonies and are likely to remain so. The Trustees meet quarterly.
At the discretion of the Trustees grants are given for the preservation, repair, renovation and improvement of churches and chapels, and of their contents.
*** Please note that data collected from grant applications will not be shared with third-parties ***
On Completion of the Project
On satisfactory completion of the project we present, at an appropriate service of worship, a certificate and cheque to the recipient grant-awarded church or chapel.
For further information please contact the Grants Administrator, Mr John Whiteside, at:
Bryn Awel, Pool Bank, Pontesbury Hill Road, Shrewsbury SY5 0YJ. Tel: 01743 791147
c.whiteside.whiteside@btinternet.com
Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme
March 2026 - The information below including all website and email links is from HM Government.
The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS) is no longer accepting applications from new or returning applicants.
All award decisions within the £23 million budget for the 2025 to 2026 financial year have now been finalised. If you’re still waiting for a decision on your application, you should receive the outcome by Wednesday 15 April 2026. There will be no further funding rounds.
Other sources of funding for places of worship
Although LPWGS has now closed, other sources of funding are available which you may be eligible for, subject to meeting the criteria.
The Places of Worship Renewal Fund (England only)
The Places of Worship Renewal Fund (PWRF) is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and delivered by Historic England, designed to support the repair and maintenance of England’s treasured places of worship and targeted at places of most need. A total of £92 million has been allocated to the fund over a four-year period. The fund applies to England only.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund (UK-wide)
If you are seeking funding from elsewhere in the UK please be advised that The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) offers grants for all types of heritage and is open to applications from places of worship from across the UK.
Further information
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will retain data and information about past applications to LPWGS in line with departmental records policy. These information retention periods begin from the date that a grant application was submitted and last for:
2 years for grant applications that were not successful
7 years for grant applications that were successful, payment records and other records related to expenditure of public money
For information about a past grant application that you submitted or about the closure of the scheme, contact:
Department for Culture, Media & Sport
100 Parliament Street
London
SW1A 2BQ
Email: enquiries@dcms.gov.uk