The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme will see some 5,000 religious buildings across the UK share up to £42 million, as the Government continues its support for the conservation of listed places of worship across the country.
As more than one million people are expected to attend Midnight Mass and Christmas Day services, they might be attending one of the 4,900 places of worship which have benefited from Government support over the last year to ease the cost of essential conservation and maintenance work.
Beneficiaries of the scheme this year include:
• Leicester Cathedral in Leicester, which has received more than £600,000 to restore the historic building, including renewing the cathedral's heating, lighting and electrics and creating a heritage learning centre for visitors from the local community and beyond;
• the 11th-century Chichester Cathedral in Chichester, which has received more than £195,000 for its roof and lighting projects. The cash from the Listed Places of Worship Fund has also supported organ repair and maintenance, new fire and intruder alarms, and support with other major projects to protect this Norman building;
• the 12th-century Collegiate Church of St Mary in Warwick, which has been granted over £141,500 to repair the ancient tower, including work on the clocks and faces. Funding also supported the maintenance of electric and heating systems as well as new security and alarm systems;
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• the Grade II*-listed All Saints' Church in Wokingham, which has received £112,000 to rebuild the Copeman Hart organ and install new speakers. New underfloor heating was installed alongside an accessible toilet and entrance;
• Salford Cathedral, which has received more than £452,000 for a series of works to protect the long-term safety of the 19th-century building, including refurbishment of the roof, new insulation, replacement windows and doors, and new lighting;
• Llandaff Cathedral, originally opened in 1290, which has received more than £67,000 for design and work to replace the current heating and lighting system;
• Netherlee and Stamperland Parish Church, East Renfrewshire, which has received £104,000 for works to refurbish the sanctuary roof with works to the masonry, gutters, downpipes, lead works and drains;
• Shankill Parish Church, Lurgan, Craigavon, which received £92,000 to fund the repair of dry rot, the roof and the lightning conductor on the church's spire.
To mark the impact of the scheme over the last twelve months, Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay visited St Mary's Church in Hitchin, Hertfordshire to see how the more than £5,000 it has received has helped to support works on the church's bells.
The Minister said: "As churches across the country fill up for Nativity plays and Christmas services, it's a reminder of the huge role that they and other places of worship play in the lives of their community.
"The Listed Places of Worship Scheme supports these precious buildings, which are cherished by people of all faiths and none.
"With nearly 5,000 supported over the past year alone, I'm glad to see the difference it has made to visitors, worshippers, and the people who look after them for the benefit of future generations."
Recent projects supported by the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme include the complete replacement of the old leaky copper roof with a new lead one. We are also upgrading the Cathedral's internal lighting scheme replacing old lights and cabling with a bespoke LED scheme. The new lighting is sympathetic to the building and has reduced energy consumption by 50%.
Aside from the major projects, the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme also covers many general repair and maintenance costs for the Cathedral, effectively making the Cathedral fabric neutral in respect of VAT.
Since 2010, the Places of Worship Fund has invested £346 million in listed churches, synagogues, mosques and temples. The fund provides grants towards the VAT incurred on eligible costs, such as works to the roofs, masonry and monuments integral to the buildings.
