The Wolfson Foundation’s Historic Christian Churches Fabric Repair Grants can be allocated to fabric repairs at church buildings of all Christian denominations. They must be of heritage significance and listed Grade I or II* in England and Wales, Grade A or B+ listed in Northern Ireland, and Grade A or B listed in Scotland. The Fabric Repair Grant programme is managed by the National Churches Trust in partnership with the Wolfson Foundation.
Repairs will usually be identified as Category A or B recommendations in the most recent Quinquennial Inspection report, or as urgent repairs in condition surveys. Typically, projects may include:
o Floorwork.
o Masonry repairs.
o Rainwater disposal and drainage, and
o Roof repairs.
Grants of up to £10,000 are available for the following categories of project:
1. Medium Grants for projects costing between £20,000 and £80,000.
2. Large Grants for projects costing over £80,000.
Please note that there is a matched funding requirement for this programme. Applicants are normally expected to have sought and secured 50% of the total project cost before applying to the Fund. In addition, all relevant permissions (for example, planning consent) must be in place and the project must be overseen by an architect with appropriate conservation accreditation.
Applications are assessed against the following criteria:
o Appropriateness of the proposal.
o Financial need of the parish (the parish’s financial situation and the UK Government’s Index of Multiple Deprivation are used as indicators to assist this process).
o Need for the work.
o The significance of the building, and
o The urgency of the proposed work.
Funding is not available for:
o Any Category D (or lower) recommendation arising from a Quinquennial Inspection report.
o Professional fees.
o Projects that have benefited from a Church Care/Wolfson Foundation fabric repairs grant within the previous five years.
o Projects that have benefited from a Wolfson Foundation capital grant within the previous five years.
o Renewal of heating and lighting, or the installation of access improvements and facilities such as toilets (although these might still be eligible via the National Churches Trust Grant Programme. (LINK), or
o Retrospective costs, or VAT recovery.
There are separate application processed and deadlines for Medium and Large Grants.
o The next application deadline for the Medium Grants strand for projects with a total cost of between £20,000 and £80,000 is Monday 11th December 2023.
o The next application deadline for the Large Grants strand for projects with a total cost of over £80,000 is Tuesday 7th November 2023.
Further information, guidance and application forms are available on the National Churches Trust website.
