In the past 10 years, some 3,500 churches have closed their doors, prompting a call to action to rescue those under threat.
The National Churches Trust has launched its manifesto calling for urgent action to rescue the UK’s church buildings. ‘Every Church Counts offers a blueprint for how churches can be saved for the future,’ explains National Churches Trust chief executive Claire Walker. ‘With hundreds facing closure across the UK, a national plan is urgently needed… We are calling on Government, heritage organisations and Christian denominations to work together.’
Some 3,500 churches have shut their doors over the past decade. Of the 38,500 churches, chapels and meeting houses now open for worship in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, 20,000 are listed; in England alone, 900 of these church buildings are on the Historic England Heritage at Risk Register. Currently, in Scotland, 30–40% of churches are set to close and, in Wales, a quarter have shut in the past decade (Books).
Measures proposed in the manifesto include, of course, procuring more funds, which could be aided by a Government-supported matched funding scheme. At the moment, the backlog of repairs for the Church of England’s churches is £1 billion, with the average maintenance cost at about £150 million a year. It’s estimated that additional annual public funding of £50 million is required.
‘At the moment, the backlog of repairs for the Church of England’s churches is £1 billion’
‘More support is especially needed for churches in more deprived areas, such as inner cities and coastal towns. These churches often do a tremendous amount to support local people, but struggle to raise money to repair buildings, with many facing closure,’ says Sir Philip Rutnam, chair of the National Churches Trust.
Also at risk is the ‘National Help Service provided by churches,’ continues Ms Walker. ‘With so many of them providing vitally important community services, from food banks to warm spaces, churches are crucial to the social and economic wellbeing of millions of people.’
The manifesto recommends that support officers be appointed across the country to assist the volunteers and clergy who care for these buildings, as well as encouraging tourists to visit historic churches, more community events and openings beyond service times.
There is a belief that, with the right focus from the next Government, these goals can be achieved. In 2019, the National Churches Trust’s manifesto (also just before a General Election) called for the renewal of the Listed Place of Worship Grants scheme, which enables churches to reclaim VAT on repairs, a request that bore fruit in 2021 with an extension to 2025. That manifesto also called for Government to clarify the legality of parish councils funding churches, which happened in 2023. Currently, with the help of an anonymous donor, the National Churches Trust is running a matched funding drive (up to £500,000) for 18 ‘Last Chance Churches’
‘This is the greatest conservation challenge facing Britain in the early 21st century,’ adds Country Life Architectural Editor John Goodall. ‘We’re already seeing in Scotland the large-scale abandonment of major historic churches and the situation in Wales is disheartening. We must do our very best to ensure this never happens at scale in England.’
Should politicians need further encouragement: ‘With 66% of UK adults agreeing that churches are important for society and 68% agreeing that they are an important part of the UK’s history and heritage, we are confident that saving the UK’s churches for the future has the overwhelming support of the public,’ concludes Sir Philip.
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