Concerns grant changes will impact church repairs

16 hours ago

Claire Manning

BBC News, South West

A project worth about £600,000 is ongoing to renovate the stonework at a church in Ilfracombe in Devon

BBC A stonemason hits a chisel on the grey wall of a church in Devon. He is wearing a blue hoodie, yellow high-vis jacket and a white hard hat. — A project worth about £600,000 is ongoing to renovate the stonework at a church in Ilfracombe in Devon

Fears have been raised over changes to a grant scheme that supports work on historic religious buildings in the south-west of England.

The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which, since 2001, has allowed sites to claim back VAT on urgent repairs, has only been extended until March 2026 and had a cap of £25,000 per year introduced by the government.

This has raised concerns from people looking after venues in Devon and Cornwall about whether they would be able to afford future repairs.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said it been a "difficult decision" to make the changes but data suggested 94% of claims would be unaffected.

Claire Walker, chief executive of the National Churches Trust, said the government scheme was a "lifeline" to many venues.

She said: "It's not within the means of a congregation to find that extra money, so that could mean churches cannot stay wind and watertight and they can't keep themselves open."

A campaign has been launched to raise £450,000 to carry out repairs at St Grada Church in Cornwall

St Grada Church in Cornwall. It is a stone building with a tiled roof in a triangular shape. Several graves are dotted around the outside of the building. — A campaign has been launched to raise £450,000 to carry out repairs at St Grada Church in Cornwall

A fundraising campaign is taking place at St Grada Church on Cornwall's Lizard peninsula, which needs an estimated £450,000 worth of restoration work carried out.

Wendy Elliot, who has been coming to the church for more than 50 years and is helping with the fundraising, said the main issue was parts of the roof falling off.

Ms Elliot said: "It is not going to fall under our watch, we have got to save it."

The Church of St Philip & St James in Ilfracombe, Devon, which dates to 1856 and is now known as Pip and Jim's Church, is on Historic England's Heritage At-risk Register.

The current phase of work to renovate its stonework is costing about £600,000.

Vicar Reverend Mark Ruoff said the church was at the "heart of the people" of the town.

"It needs to be renewed and revived," he added.

Pip and Jim's Church vicar Mark Ruoff said the venue was at the heart of Ilfracombe

Pip and Jim's Church vicar Reverend Mark Ruoff stands on scaffolding at the venue. He has a burgundy jumper on over his tunic and dog collar. He is wearing a white hard hat. — Pip and Jim's Church vicar Mark Ruoff said the venue was at the heart of Ilfracombe

A statement from DCMS said the changes were being implemented against a "tough financial background across the heritage and cultural sectors".

"We made the difficult decision to implement an annual limit of £25,000 on the amount individual places of worship can claim in the coming year," a spokesperson said.

"We believe that this will continue the widest distribution of the scheme's benefits within the available means."

The spokesperson added funding after March 2026 would be considered.

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