Historic churches urged by MP to apply for grants as repairs fund is restored
Churches in the Louth and Horncastle area are being urged to register for new grants if they are in need of repairs.
The plea has come from the towns’ Conservative MP, Victoria Atkins, after the government opened the Places Of Worship Renewal Fund for 2026.
A total of £92 million over four years has been pumped into the fund, which supports urgent repairs and essential improvements to listed places of worship across the country.
The previous fund was closed, but Ms Atkins, alongside Conservative colleagues and local churches, called for it to be reinstated to help churches she described as “vital community hubs”.
The MP said: “After much dither and delay, the government has opened applications for the new Places Of Worship Renewal Fund and the Heritage At Risk Capital Fund.
"The expression-of-interest deadlines are Sunday, June 14 and Sunday, June 7 respectively."
Grants ranging from £10,000 to £1,000,000 will be awarded from the worship fund for capital works that keep buildings safe, open and in public use.
Any listed place of worship in England can apply, of any faith or denomination, provided it is classed as active.
Priority will be given to projects in areas of England with the greatest need for investment, and those that bring most community benefit.
Ms Atkins added: “After the government announced the cut to the Listed Places Of Worship Grant scheme, I was contacted by a number of concerned churches, worried about the increasing costs of repair and maintenance of a number of our wonderful, old churches.
“I welcome that the government has finally opened its replacement schemes and would strongly encourage any eligible churches to look into these as a matter of urgency because expressions of interest need to be registered within the next few weeks on the first round of these grants.
“I am very concerned at how this has been rushed out after the months of uncertainty that people have faced.
"The Conservatives have committed to fully restoring funding for the Listed Places Of Worship Grant scheme.”
In order to support different sizes of project, the fund has been divided into three streams – small grants of between £10,000 and £50,000, medium grants of between £50,001 and £350,000 and large grants.