National Churches Trust’s Maintenance Grants Open for Applications

Listed churches, chapels and meeting houses that are open for regular public worship in the UK can apply for small, urgent maintenance issues or repairs which reduce the need for – and long-term costs of – building repairs.

Grants of between £500 and £3,000 are available to listed churches, chapels and meeting houses with repair or maintenance projects costing between £1,000 and £10,000 – where applicants can demonstrate that they have already secured a minimum 50% of the total project costs.

Congregations can be of any denomination that is a member or associated member of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. Unitarian buildings may also be considered. Priority will be given to Baptist and Presbyterian/Church of Scotland denominations.

The funding can be used for a number of different things, including:

Addressing access issues to high level to allow volunteers or professionals to perform regular inspections or maintenance of roofs and rainwater goods.
Introducing improvements to rainwater systems, such as introducing overflow spouts or installing wider-diameter gutters and downpipes.
Removing inappropriate vegetation growth from buildings that threatens historic fabric or rainwater management systems.
Replacing faulty or damaged gutter systems.
Repairing or enhancing damaged or inadequate ground drainage.
Investigating, repairing or installing soakaways.
Addressing lost, damaged or slipped roof tiles.
Addressing pest infestations.
Renew, re-fix or repair flashings.
Replace broken floor tiles.
Addressing masonry/brickwork issues and repointing.
Fitting new louvres and bird mesh in tower openings.
Internal repairs to ceilings and walls.

The Trust will consider places of worship in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Priority will be given to North East England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

There will be three closing dates for applications in 2018.

The first application deadline is 24 January 2018.

Full details…