The UK government’s Places of Worship Renewal Fund has now launched, offering grants of £10,000 to £1 million for capital works to listed places of worship. The scheme will run for four years and replaces the previous Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which had allowed churches to reclaim VAT on repair and maintenance work.
Unlike the old system, this is a competitive fund, prioritising churches in areas of greatest need. Eligible churches must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) with successful applicants then invited to apply in full. In 2026, the first deadline for EOI submission is Sunday 14 June, with a second round following in September.
Crucially, all repairs and maintenance that take place at any listed place of worship are now subject to 20% VAT, with no general reclaim scheme available. However, Historic England have indicated that some VAT costs may be recoverable for successful grant recipients.
Full details are available on the Historic England website. For further information or support, contact Beth Farrelly (Church Buildings Support Officer) at beth.farrelly@liverpool.anglican.org
