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Home Pobl Dewi: March 2026 Wales loses access to government church repair grant scheme

Wales loses access to government church repair grant scheme

The UK Government has announced that the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme is to close at the end of March. And its replacement won’t apply to churches in Wales.

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."

The Church in Wales has reacted swiftly to bring pressure on the Welsh Government to redress the situation.

  • lobbied the Minister for Culture on whether a Welsh scheme will be set up to put our listed places of worship on par with those of England.
  • asked the UK Government whether Barnett consequentials will come to Wales following the announcement of the new England-only scheme.
  • in talks with colleagues in the Church of Scotland to put pressure on the UK Government to explain their position and to explain to them that this matter extends far past heritage. Also, as VAT is not devolved, we will work with counterparts in England and Scotland to request a change.
  • With Senedd elections imminent, effort are being made to gain cross-party support for the creation of a Welsh scheme when the new Government is formed.

The deadline for applications to the current scheme was to have been March 31st. However, DCMS has announced that all available funds have been allocated so applications have closed. Churches awaiting a funding decision should hear the outcome by mid-April.