Funding boost to keep churches and chapels in good repair

£200,000 will go to boosting the National Churches Trust’s grants for urgent repairs and for the provision of modern community facilities such as toilets and kitchens.

A further £50,000 will be made available to churches and chapels developing repair and maintenance projects, including funding for drone surveys to help identify problems with buildings and to scope possible work.

Catherine Townsend, Head of Church Support for the National Churches Trust, said: “We are delighted with this £250,000 funding boost from the Department for Communities Historic Environment Division through their Covid-19 Culture, Languages, Arts and Heritage Support Programme.

“The money will allow us to keep more church and chapel buildings in Northern Ireland in good repair. That is especially important due to the challenge of Covid-19 and will help churches and chapels play their part in helping local people during these difficult times.”

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey said: “I am delighted that I have been able to provide this support. This will help catalyse renewal activity and animate communities affected by Covid-19 by working with them to tackle the issues faced by our historic church buildings.

“Churches have been a critical element of the Covid-19 response and it is fitting that they now become part of our renewal through generating new works and transformed spaces.”

The National Churches Trust supports churches and chapels of all denominations that are open for regular worship.

The funding will help to boost the work of the National Churches Trust in helping church and chapel buildings in Northern Ireland.

The Trust’s work includes Treasure Ireland, (www.nationalchurchestrust.org/treasure-ireland) a project which is helping churches and chapels with maintenance, grants for repairs and tourism initiatives.

Since 2018, the National Churches Trust has helped 29 churches and chapels with funding of £185,000 for urgent repairs, provision of toilets, kitchens and other community facilities and essential maintenance.

This funding has been supported by the Pilgrim Trust, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Wolfson Foundation.

If you are interested in applying for a grant got to https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/our-grants/grants-northern-ireland