Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Places of Worship Renewal Fund

Thursday 16 April 2026 · 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

  • Church Commissioner met with Minister for Heritage just before Easter recess to discuss the listed places of worship grant scheme.
  • Government has not yet published detailed information about the support for the scheme.
  • Liberal Democrat highlights Project Welcome in Sturminster Marshall aimed at repairing and modernizing church space.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Peter Prinsley Lab Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket
Religion & Faith
Context

The Church leaders in Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket are concerned about the cancellation of the listed places of worship grant scheme. The community is worried about the support and guidance given to those who maintain churches.

Question

I thank my hon. Friend for her answer. Church leaders in Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket are rightly concerned about the cancellation of the listed places of worship grant scheme. Will the Church Commissioner outline what conversations she has had with the Government regarding the support and guidance given to those people who are concerned with the upkeep of churches in my constituency and across the country? It is surely for our generation to preserve the legacy bequeathed to us by our forefathers.

Answer from Marsha de Cordova

I can confirm that I have met colleagues in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on numerous occasions, most recently the Minister for Heritage just before Easter recess. We are still waiting for the Government to publish more detail on this vital scheme. As I said in my meeting with the Minister, I urge the Government to get on and publish that detail at pace so that we can give our churches certainty.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answerer did not confirm whether projects already under way will be eligible for the renewal scheme.

How: We Are Still Waiting For The Government To Publish More Detail On This Vital Scheme.

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Q2 Peter Prinsley Lab Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket
Religion & Faith
Context

The Church leaders in Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket are concerned about the cancellation of the listed places of worship grant scheme. The community is worried about the support and guidance given to those who maintain churches.

Question

I thank my hon. Friend for her answer. Church leaders in Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket are rightly concerned about the cancellation of the listed places of worship grant scheme. Will the Church Commissioner outline what conversations she has had with the Government regarding the support and guidance given to those people who are concerned with the upkeep of churches in my constituency and across the country? It is surely for our generation to preserve the legacy bequeathed to us by our forefathers.

Answer from Marsha de Cordova

I can confirm that I have met colleagues in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on numerous occasions, most recently the Minister for Heritage just before Easter recess. We are still waiting for the Government to publish more detail on this vital scheme. As I said in my meeting with the Minister, I urge the Government to get on and publish that detail at pace so that we can give our churches certainty. In the meantime, while we await the guidance, my hon. Friend's constituency churches can reach out to their diocesan Church Buildings Council adviser for further advice, support and guidance on this issue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answerer did not confirm whether projects already under way will be eligible for the renewal scheme.

How: We Are Still Waiting For The Government To Publish More Detail On This Vital Scheme.

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Q3 Vikki Slade Lib Dem Mid Dorset and North Poole
Religion & Faith
Context

The community in Sturminster Marshall is raising funds to repair and modernise their church space under Project Welcome, which aims to create a warm, safe, and accessible church. The closure of the listed places of worship grant scheme has led to increased costs.

Question

You will be aware, Mr Speaker, that Lib Dems are great at fixing the church roof. In Sturminster Marshall, the community is going further with Project Welcome, which will repair and modernise the space, creating a warm, safe and accessible church that is integral to the community. However, the closure of the listed places of worship grant scheme means that costs have gone through the roof. The community has raised £275,000 of a £360,000 target, which, without the VAT, they would have achieved. Can the hon. Lady confirm whether projects already under way will be eligible for the renewal scheme?

Answer from Marsha de Cordova

I will just put it on the record that we are all, across the House, keen advocates for our local churches; we recognise that they are the cornerstones of our community, so we are all hugely supportive of efforts to fix roofs, or whatever needs to be done to them. The hon. Lady highlights an important point about the scheme, and I will be happy to write to her about it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answerer did not confirm whether ongoing church renovation projects are eligible for the new renewal fund.

How: I Will Be Happy To Write To Her About It.

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