Churches and Pastoral Fund
PLEASE NOTE: THE CHURCHES AND PASTORAL FUND FOR 2024 HAS NOW BEEN SPENT. THE FUND WILL REOPEN AGAIN IN JANUARY 2025
GRANTS FOR THE REPAIR, EXTENSION, OR PROVISION OF PLACES OF WORSHIP
Grant funding is available from the Diocese towards the cost of church building repairs, extensions, refurbs and reordering. Grants are also available for work in churchyards.
Criteria
- Applications must be supported by the Area Dean.
- Applications must only relate to the church or place of worship. Retrospective applications for completed work are ineligible.
- Works relating to churchyards are eligible (see Eligible Costs and Grant Rates below).
- Works must be in accordance with faculty rules and, where applicable, planning permission and building regulations.
- Applications for the construction of new places of worship must be endorsed by the Bishop. The site for the new church must be in the ownership of the Representative Body.
- The resources available for grants are limited and the Committee will wish to see that the parish has made every effort to secure funds from external sources. The maintenance of existing places of worship will be the priority and, in relation to extension or new construction, the parish will need to show a genuine need. The Committee will be influenced by the desire to meet the needs of an increasing congregation; the improvement of the use and facilities in an existing building; meeting the requirements of current legislation (such as Equalities Act 2010 and Health & Safety Regulations, Asbestos Report, Fire Risk Assessment).
- Evidence should be provided showing that the church will perform a key role in community outreach within the parish.
- Grants are payable either in full at the completion of the works or in stage payments supported in each case by a copy of the appointed architect’s certificate or equivalent professionally qualified advisor’s endorsement.
- Grants must be spent within one year of the date of the award.
- Recipients of grants will be required to complete a feedback form upon project completion.
Eligible Costs
- New churches
- Extensions or major reordering
- Works to improve safety and accessibility (including churchyards)
- Works of repair to the fabric of a church excluding stained glass or decoration unless such works represent less than 10% of a major repair project.
Grant Rates
Church buildings: Maximum £10,500 or 100% of eligible costs where project costs are below £10,500.
Churchyards: Maximum £3,000 or 100% of eligible costs where project costs are below £3,000.