Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme

Thursday 27 February 2025 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The extension of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme will be in place until March 2026.
  • The 25,000 cap on VAT relief is insufficient for larger projects, such as the community hub at Holy Trinity church in Sunningdale.
  • Churches like The Belfrey in York will lose significant funding, up to 1.5 million, due to the capping of the grant scheme.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Blake Stephenson Con Mid Bedfordshire
Religion & Faith
Context

Local concern about uncertainty for longer-term projects requiring support beyond 12 months. Example project: St Botolph’s in Aspley Guise.

Question

The extension of the scheme will be welcome news to those involved with churches such as St Botolph’s in Aspley Guise in Mid Bedfordshire. People there have told me of their concern about the lack of certainty for longer-term projects that may need support beyond 12 months. Will the Church Commissioner join me and other colleagues in pressing the Chancellor to provide longer-term funding certainty?

Answer from Marsha De Cordova

The hon. Member has raised this issue at Church Commissioner questions previously, and he is right to continue to do so. Although the scheme is being extended until March 2026, we do not have a long-term plan or solution. It is only right that the Government should set out their plans.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment for longer-term funding certainty was not provided

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Q2 Jack Rankin Con Windsor
Taxation Religion & Faith
Context

Holy Trinity church in Sunningdale needs significant funds for a new community hub project, but the £25,000 cap on VAT relief is insufficient. Rev. Jon Hutchinson has raised concerns about the narrow scope of lottery funding.

Question

Holy Trinity church in Sunningdale has served the parish for 185 years. It wants to build on that legacy with a community hub, complete with new facilities, including a volunteer-run café for the wider community. The £25,000 cap on VAT relief may be enough to sustain smaller projects, but this one will cost well over £1 million; that means that another £250,000 in donations will be needed, which cannot stretch that far. I understand that the Government are encouraging churches to apply for lottery funding, but Rev. Jon Hutchinson has raised the fact that the scope of that funding is too narrow to cover the project. Will the Second Church Estates Commissioner meet me to discuss how we can get this project over the line?

Answer from Marsha De Cordova

The hon. Member makes an important point, and raises an issue that affects many churches. The £25,000 cap works for smaller projects, but it will not go far enough for larger projects, such as the one in his constituency. I am happy to meet him.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment for addressing VAT relief issues was not provided

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Q3 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
Community Security Religion & Faith
Context

Many churches are mid-project and will miss out on vital funds for necessary repairs due to the capping of the grant scheme. Example project: Belfrey in York losing £1.5 million.

Question

The capping of the listed places of worship grant scheme has left many churches in physical ruin, such as the Belfrey in York, which will lose £1.5 million, even though it has done everything that was expected of it. Clearly, we need to find a solution, and the suggestions from Government have been insufficient. Will my hon. Friend ensure that the Church Commissioners co-ordinate a meeting of all churches that are mid-project, to ensure that they can complete the works that they have undertaken?

Answer from Marsha De Cordova

I will take my hon. Friend’s question back to see if we can set up a meeting. As she highlighted, many churches will be missing out on vital funds to carry out necessary repairs, particularly those that have already started work. If that work extends beyond the March 2026 deadline, they will not be able to reclaim any VAT. It is important that we find a long-term solution.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment for a coordinated meeting was not provided

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