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Cherish: Support for Scotland, Wales / Cymru and North West England

Throughout Scotland, Wales and North West England, you’ll find a stunning mix of churches, chapels and meetings houses. Each area has its own unique and rich history – some of which is best captured in its places of worship. 

But in these places, it has been harder for historic churches to get the help they need to make urgent repairs to their buildings. Cherish has been set up to support at risk churches in these places, so that we do not lose this precious heritage.

Through three dedicated support officers based in Scotland, Wales/Cymru and North West England (Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cumbria), churches are given advice and training on grants and maintenance, so they can keep their places of worship in good repair. There is also support given to help churches open their buildings to visitors and tourists, so that even more people can enjoy the wonderful heritage that these churches have to offer.


More about Cherish

Cherish was set up thanks to a £1.9 million National Lottery Heritage Fund grant awarded to the National Churches Trust and will run until 2026.

Cherish grants fund offers between £500 and £10,000 for small repairs and maintenance to help keep churches in good condition and prevent expensive repairs.

How Cherish can help your church

Through three dedicated support officers based in Scotland, North West England and Wales/Cymru, Cherish is able to provide a range of training, resources and mentoring to help you look after your place of worship.

Paisley Abbey
Ioan Said and National Churches Trust

Scotland

Support for places of worship in Scotland

Gareth Simpson, of the National Churches Trust, standing in front of a stone wall
Gareth Simpson

Wales / Cymru

Support for places of worship in Wales

The impact of Cherish so far – just one year in

Explore the map below to see Cherish grants awarded so far

  • 30 places of worship

    have received a Cherish grant

  • More than 150 churches, chapels and meeting houses visited

    by a local support officer to help with advice on repairs, projects and tourism

  • Over 100 churches

    have been supported over the phone to help with their place of worship

A big thank you to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and to the National Lottery players who have helped to make Cherish possible. 

Gaelic and Welsh National Lottery Heritage Fund acknowledgement stamps