Government grant funding for churches in Wales to close

The UK Government has announced that the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme is to close at the end of March.

The deadline for applications is midnight on March 31st. https://listed-places-of-worship-grant.dcms.gov.uk/application-form/. The sooner that claims can be submitted, the better the chance of receiving the hoped-for refund grant.

The LPWG scheme has enabled churches to cover the cost of VAT on repairs since 2001.

In its place, the Department for Culture Media & Sport is creating the Places of Worship Renewal Fund with £92 million of capital funding available over the next five years that will, they say, bring places of worship into line with other heritage assets, giving them access to the same level of financial support as historic houses, monuments and other sites of national importance.

But the Department for Media Culture & Sport has confirmed that the new fund will apply to England only because Heritage is a matter devolved to the Welsh Government.

A spokesman said: "We are working closely with other funders in the sector to ensure that opportunities for funding places of worship throughout the UK are maximised. The National Lottery Heritage Fund offers funding throughout the UK including for listed places of worship."