Bradley Thomas, the Conservative MP for Bromsgrove, has tabled a Westminster Hall debate on Wednesday 22 January. This is a crucial next step in raising awareness about the importance of the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme. The scheme – a lifeline for historic churches – is set to run out in March. Find out more about the Westminster Hall debate and how you can get involved.
What is a Westminster Hall debate?
A Westminster Hall debate happens in the UK Houses of Parliament. MPs apply for a debate and then they are allocated through a ballot.
They are an opportunity for MPs to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister. They are useful in bringing attention to crucial issues. While nothing in the debate is binding, they can show the breadth of feeling on an issue and can help inform future policy or decision-making.
You can watch the Westminster Hall Debate about the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme here.
Time is running out
The Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme allows for listed places of worship to reclaim VAT on their repair projects. The scheme has been renewed by every UK Government since it was introduced in 2004 – but unless it is renewed it will run out in March.
Since it was first introduced, more than 13,000 places of worship have been supported in keeping their buildings windproof and watertight, safeguarding the future of some of our most important local heritage. Church repairs are funded by local congregations; if the scheme was scrapped, project costs will increase by one fifth.
“The Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme needs to be renewed urgently – otherwise local volunteers will have to pay VAT to the Government on top of everything else. That would inevitably mean more churches close, and more communities suffer,” says Sir Philip Rutnam, Chair of the National Churches Trust.
How you can help in advance of the debate
Contact your MP over the next few days and ask them to attend the Westminster Hall debate on the 22 January
The more MPs that come to the debate, the more attention will be raised about the scheme. It is a great opportunity to highlight the importance of church buildings with MPs and to make the case for why the scheme must be renewed. You can find out who your MP is here and use our fact sheets to help you make the case.
Share on social media
Tell people about the debate and why it's important. This could encourage other people to write to their MPs. You can also share posts from the National Churches Trust – we are on X (Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Hear from a church
Totnes St Mary is one of the 969 places of worship on Historic England’s 2024 Heritage at Risk Register. The Devon church has been part of the Totnes landscape for more than 500 years, but parts of the floor are sinking, and other parts are raised up due to water and damp underneath the building, expanding and contracting and destroying the floors.
From weekly cafes, classical concerts, book launches, talks and lectures to choir practices, the church is a valued and much-loved space. It is open from dawn until dusk every day and attracts 50,000 visitors a year from people wanting to enjoy the heritage or just find somewhere quiet to reflect and pray.
The church will be using the scheme to reclaim VAT on their urgent repair project.
“It is not easy for parish churches to raise funds for major repairs because everyone thinks the church is wealthy,” shares Jim Barlow, Rector at St Mary’s church.
“In reality, local churches are run and funded by local volunteers. The National Churches Trust is one of the few bodies making funds available to support incredible buildings, like St Mary's, which serve and support the whole community.
“Repairs to the floor and making the building more accessible will enable more people to use the church for more of the year, both in the day and the evening. It will benefit everyone, not just the congregations: from people popping in to find peace and quiet or light a prayer candle, seasonal visitors coming in to admire the rare stone rood screen or see the Totnes Map, for community groups to run pop up events and exhibitions, for artists and musicians and those attending concerts. It will make life so much easier for those who set up events, not having to navigate the uneven floors and raised pew platforms anymore and will create new open spaces whilst retaining the iconic character of the building.”
Thank you
At the National Churches Trust, we are doing everything that we can to support church buildings in need. We greatly value your help in making the case for churches to your MP and for everything you are doing to help us keep churches open and in good repair. Thank you.
