Funding for Places of Worship in the United Kingdom

The foundation awards grants through two routes:

• Wolfson Fabric Repair Grants:
  • These grants are offered in partnership with the Wolfson Foundation. Historic places of worship can apply for a Wolfson grant via the National Churches Trust’s Medium and Large grant programmes (depending on the size of the project).
  • From 2020 grants made by the Wolfson Foundation to churches will be awarded by the National Churches Trust.
  • Grants will be awarded towards essential fabric repairs at churches in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
• Funding for Historic Buildings & Landscapes:
  • The foundation supports organisations managing sites of outstanding historic, architectural and cultural significance and that have a clear emphasis on public access and engagement. They award grants towards conservation and restoration work, interpretation, and education spaces.

Funding Information

• Wolfson Fabric Repair Grants: These grants are usually up to £10,000.
• Funding for Historic Buildings & Landscapes:
  • Usual grant range: £15,000 – £100,000
  • Minimum grant amount: £15,000
  • Match funding required: Yes, if project cost is >£50,000
  • Funding covers: Conservation and restoration work to sites of outstanding historic, architectural and cultural significance

Ineligible Funding

• Wolfson Fabric Repair Grants:
  • Projects that have benefited from a ChurchCare/Wolfson Foundation fabric repairs grant within the previous five years
  • Projects that have benefited from a Wolfson Foundation capital grant within the previous five years
  • Wolfson funds do not fund the renewal of heating and lighting, or the installation of facilities, e.g. WCs (though these might still be eligible via our Cornerstone Grant Programme), access improvements etc.
  • Any Category D (or lower) recommendation arising from a QI report
  • VAT recovery
• Funding for Historic Buildings & Landscapes:
  • Purchase of land or existing buildings (including a building’s freehold)
  • Grants direct to individuals
  • Grants through conduit organisations
  • Heritage assets in private ownership
  • Overheads, maintenance costs and VAT
  • Non-specific appeals (including circulars) and endowment funds
  • Costs of meetings, exhibitions, concerts, expeditions, conferences, lectures, etc.
  • Salary costs
  • Running costs, including vehicle fuel and maintenance
  • Film, websites or promotional materials
  • Repayment of loans
  • Projects that have already been completed or will be by the time of award

Eligibility Criteria

• Wolfson Fabric Repair Grants:
  • The Wolfson Foundation grants can be allocated to fabric repairs at church buildings of all Christian denominations. They must be of heritage significance and listed Grade I or II in England and Wales, Grade A or B+ listed in Northern Ireland, and Grade A or B listed in Scotland.
  • Repairs will usually be identified as Category A or B recommendations in the most recent Quinquennial Inspection report, or as urgent repairs in condition surveys. Typically, projects include roof repairs, masonry repairs, rainwater disposal and drainage, and floorwork.
  • The National Churches Trust’s core programme criteria will apply, these include:
    • Projects must be overseen by an architect with appropriate conservation accreditation
    • 50% of the required funding needs to have been secured at point of application
    • Permissions must be in place
• Funding for Historic Buildings & Landscapes:
  • Your site should:
    • be a registered charity or a local authority
    • be open and accessible to the public for the majority of the year, with a reasonable number of visitors. They know that COVID-19 continues to affect visitor numbers and understand that the environment for many public sites has changed.
  • be listed as:
    • Grade I, II or a Scheduled Monument (England and Wales)
    • Category A, B or a Scheduled Monument (Scotland)
    • Grade A, B+ or a Scheduled Monument (Northern Ireland).
  • When they receive a high level of interest in this programme, they will prioritise applications from sites which are listed as Grade I, Category A, Grade A or a Scheduled Monument.
  • For landscapes, parks and gardens, you should make a case that the site has national significance.
  • Your project should involve one or more of the following elements:
    • restoration or conservation work to the historic fabric of the building
    • excellent interpretation of historic buildings, landscapes and collections
  • and also have at least one of the following aims:
    • increased numbers of visitors to historic sites
    • better public engagement with and understanding of sites of historical and cultural significance
    • improved future sustainability of the organisation.

Deadlines

• Wolfson Fabric Repair Grants
  • Large Grant programme: 5 March 2024
  • Medium Grant programme: 11 December 2023
• Funding for Historic Buildings & Landscapes: 5 January 2024