For generations, churches have sat at the centre of community life, providing spaces not only for worship, but for remembrance, celebration and mutual support. They are part of our towns and villages, offering continuity in places that have otherwise changed over time.
This issue matters especially in rural communities like ours, where churches often serve smaller congregations with limited resources. A village church faces the same maintenance costs as an urban one - stone, timber, and lead deteriorate regardless of location, but relies on far fewer people to fund the work. The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme recognised this reality. Without adequate replacement funding, rural parishes will be disproportionately affected.
Yet while their social value is widely recognised, like many people across Lincolnshire, I am increasingly concerned about the future of our historic places of worship. The practical reality is that many churches are old, intricate buildings that are expensive to maintain. Preservation depends not just on goodwill, but on sustained financial support. For many years, as I have written about before, the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme has played a crucial role in meeting that need by reimbursing VAT on essential repair and maintenance work.
Churches across Grantham and Bourne benefited directly from this scheme. St Mary’s Church in Marston received almost £12,000, St James the Great Church in Aslackby more than £45,000, Bourne Methodist Church over £2,500, and Grantham’s St Wulfram’s benefitted too. This funding enabled necessary conservation work that protected historic buildings while ensuring they remained usable for their local communities.
That is why so many of us have expressed concern about the lack of clarity and recent changes to the scheme. Under the previous Government, funding was set at up to £42 million per year. In 2024, the new Labour Government looked like they might scrap the scheme entirely for the year ahead, but gave in to pressure and reduced this to £23 million annually and introduced a £25,000 cap on grants, while failing to confirm funding beyond March 2026. Local churches and heritage bodies were left in limbo, planning major works without knowing whether support would still be available.
The consequences were predictable. Uncertainty led to projects across our country being delayed, reduced in scope, or abandoned altogether. Faith groups, heritage organisations, Conservative MPs, and members of the public repeatedly urged the Government to provide clarity and commit to long-term funding that reflected the scale of the challenge.
In January 2026, the Government finally reversed course, partially. The old scheme would end, but a new 'Places of Worship Renewal Fund' would replace it. The acknowledgement is welcome, but the details matter. The new fund appears to work differently: rather than reimbursing churches for VAT they've already paid on repairs, it will offer upfront grants. That shift could change which buildings qualify and how much money they receive.
Crucially, the Government has yet to publish key details, including eligibility criteria, application processes, timelines, grant caps, or how the scheme will interact with other heritage funding streams. However, what we do know is that this scheme will still not restore the same levels of funding for our historic places of worship that we had before the election.
This lack of clarity matters. Around 1,000 listed places of worship are currently at immediate risk of closure nationwide. Decisions about heritage funding require long lead times and careful planning.
When certainty was most needed, the Government hesitated. While I am pleased that some element of funding will continue for the rest of this Parliament, there is a real risk that for some historic churches, the same mistake will be repeated and clarity will arrive too late.
