National Churches Trust's Large Grants Programme has reopened to applications for funding in 2025.
The Trust offers grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 for urgent and essential structural repair projects (costed at more than £80,000) to buildings that were originally built as churches, or the installation of kitchen and toilets (costed at more than £30,000). Match funding of at least 50% is required. As the Trust has limited funding, most grants will be for less than £40,000. The average grant is around £15,000.
Applications will be considered from listed and unlisted Christian places of worship, of any denomination, in the UK that are open for at least six services of public worship a year. Although not listed as distinct priorities, the Trust seeks more applications from non-Anglican denominations and a geographic spread.
Priority is given to:
- Work to architecturally and historically significant buildings
- Urgent/essential structural repair projects (as identified in a recent QIR or building survey as required within two years), with a focus on buildings that are at risk
- Installation of kitchens and toilets where a strong need can be demonstrated
- Places of worship that can demonstrate a suitable maintenance system is in place to protect the investment
- Places of worship with regular opening hours
- Places of worship that can demonstrate strong community engagement and sound plans for economic viability.
There is a two-stage application process.
The deadline for stage 1 applications is 5 November 2024 (midnight).