UK commits £41m to restore 74 worship centres, heritage buildings

UK Flag. Photo: Ballymoney Chronicles

The United Kingdom government has announced more than £41m in funding to restore 74 historic buildings, including churches, synagogues, town halls, market halls and castles across England.

The investment, announced on Thursday by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Historic England and Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross, will be delivered through the Places of Worship Renewal Fund and the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund.

The two schemes form part of the government’s wider £1.5bn Arts Everywhere Fund and are intended to support historic buildings requiring repairs and conservation work.

According to the announcement, 51 places of worship will share more than £18m through the Places of Worship Renewal Fund, while nearly £13m will support 20 projects under the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund.

An additional £10m across the remainder of the current parliament will support major restoration projects at three national heritage sites: Dover Castle, Brodsworth Hall in Doncaster and Osborne, Queen Victoria’s former family residence on the Isle of Wight.

The announcement followed a visit by Twycross to Margate and Ramsgate, where funding is supporting the restoration of the Grade II listed Margate Museum and Old Town Hall, as well as urgent repairs to the Church of St George in Ramsgate.

The Heritage Minister said the funding would help preserve historic buildings that serve communities across England.

“Nothing tells the stories of our nation quite like the historic buildings at the heart of our communities. But too often they are a far cry from their former glory with leaking roofs and crumbling stonework.

“Thanks to this funding, the much loved buildings that fill our hometowns with character will be keeping the doors open to communities for years to come.”

Among the places of worship selected for funding are Birmingham Cathedral, the Church of St Elwyn in Hayle, Cornwall, and the Sir Moses Montefiore Memorial Synagogue in Grimsby.

The planned works at Birmingham Cathedral will address deterioration affecting its tower and dome, while repairs at the Church of St Elwyn will include masonry work, new rainwater systems and restoration of interior decorations and building fabric.

The funding for the Sir Moses Montefiore Memorial Synagogue will support restoration work on the structure of the ark inside the late nineteenth-century building, described in the announcement as the only remaining synagogue in Lincolnshire and South Humberside.

Under the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, the Margate Museum and Old Town Hall will receive support for major structural repairs intended to facilitate community use, improve public access and protect the museum’s collections.

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The former Post Office on Abingdon Street in Blackpool will also receive funding for the first phase of a wider project to transform the building into a community-led cultural and creative hub.

Historic England Co-CEOs Emma Squire and Claudia Kenyatta said the grants would help preserve buildings facing significant repair and conservation needs.

“Historic places are at the heart of communities across England. They help shape the character and identity of the places we live, work and visit, and provide spaces where people can come together, connect and take part in community life.

“Through the first rounds of grants from the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund and Places of Worship Renewal Fund, which we’re proud to steward on behalf of Government, we are investing over £41 million to support 74 projects across England. These grants will support historic buildings and places of worship that face significant repair and conservation needs.”

English Heritage Acting Chief Executive Kate Logan said Dover Castle, Osborne and Brodsworth Hall were important historic sites that required repairs.

“Dover Castle, Osborne and Brodsworth Hall are amongst this country’s most important historic sites, landmarks in their local communities, and places that help us understand our national story.

“All three sites are in need of repair, and our charity is grateful to the Government for this vital support so that people can continue to enjoy them.”

The Church of England’s lead bishop for buildings, the Bishop of St Albans, Andrew Rumsey, welcomed the grants awarded to churches and cathedrals.

“I am very glad to hear of those churches and cathedrals that have been successful in the first round of awards. These grants, to churches in areas of considerable need, will help pay for fabric repairs that enable worship, missional and social action to continue in our communities. They will relieve some of the fundraising burden felt by heroic local volunteers who care for our country’s built heritage.”

The government said both funds prioritise areas of England facing the greatest need, where fundraising can be particularly difficult and public funding can have the greatest impact.

The Places of Worship Renewal Fund is worth £92m across the current parliament, while the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund has a total allocation of £75m over the same period.

A second round of recipients for both funds for the 2026/27 financial year will be announced later.