Aims/priorities: The Fund is designed to support the repair of England's treasured places of worship and targeted at places of most need. It is open to listed places of worship of all faiths and denominations in England. Applications will be assessed against the requirements of the fund, not faith or denomination.
The funding is intended for capital works that keep buildings safe, open and in public use. Priority will be given to projects in areas of England with the greatest need for investment, and those that bring most community benefit.
The fund's objectives are to:
- Repair and safeguard historic places of worship in places most in need by undertaking the repairs that keep them in use
- Help places of worship stay active as community spaces
- Strengthen long-term resilience of the building and reduce future repair costs
- Target support in the most deprived areas of England where need is highest
Projects need to match one or more of Historic England's priorities, which are to:
- Help more people to connect with, enjoy and benefit from the historic environment
- Use heritage to improve civic pride, prosperity, and wellbeing
- Achieve a positive change and sustainable future for historic places, including buildings, landscapes, archaeological sites, and marine assets
- Ensure heritage plays an important role in the fight to limit and manage the effects of climate change
Who can apply? Applications will be accepted from any listed place of worship in England, of any faith or denomination, that is:
- An active place of worship used for worship for a minimum of six times per year.
- A dedicated place of worship (in other words, not fully converted to another use).
- Able to demonstrate that the works are necessary, deliverable and aligned with the fund's requirements.
Grant amount: A total of £92 million has been allocated to the fund over a four-year period, with £23 million per annum.
There are three different levels of grants:
- Small grants of £10,000 to £50,000.
- Medium grants of £50,001 to £350,000.
- Large grants of £350,001 to £1 million.
The fund will not specifically rebate VAT. However, VAT on eligible works and costs will be eligible where it is not reclaimable.
Application process: Expressions of Interest for round two open 4 September 2026.
There is a two stage application process:
- The first stage is to submit an Expression of Interest by the deadline.
- Those who are successful will be invited to submit a full application.
Full details and the online Expression of Interest form can be found on Historic England's website.
Contact Historic England for further information.
Deadline: Friday, 2 October 2026 (17:00).
Contact information: Tel: 0370 333 0607
Email: customers@HistoricEngland.org.uk