The Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, has urged members of the Diocese of Bristol to support the extension of the governments Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.
Launched in 2001, the scheme provides grants to cover VAT costs incurred during repairs to listed buildings in use as places of worship. Until its one-year extension in April 2025, there was no cap on the amount that could be claimed, however, the recent extension introduced a £25,000 limit on individual grant applications.
Bishop Viv, along with other members of the Cathedral and Church Buildings team, has highlighted several concerns surrounding the changes brought in this April. One major issue is that the short-term nature of the extension and cap on individual claims does not adequately cater for a sector which relies on projects that often take five years to prepare and fundraise for. The uncertainty surrounding future support also discourages investment in long-term restoration efforts.
Representatives from the Cathedral and Church Buildings team recently met with MPs from the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee to discuss these concerns. They urged the committee to advocate for a further extension of the scheme and the removal of the £25,000 cap. In response, the committee sent a letter to Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross, calling for both actions.
Additionally, Darren Jones, MP for Bristol North West and Chief Secretary to the Treasury, is aware of the campaign and its aims.
Commenting on the developments, Bishop Viv said: “The decision by the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee to raise these concerns directly with the Heritage Minister shows that parliamentarians are responding positively to pressure from both constituents and experts. I would like to express my thanks to all those who have written to their MPs after I urged members at the most recent Diocesan Synod to do so. I encourage members of the diocese to continue contacting their MPs, so that together we can safeguard and preserve our church buildings for future generations.”