Grants up to £100k on offer for West Sussex church repairs

The Government has put £15m aside to help churches and other religious buildings for what can be costly repairs often funded by worshippers themselves.

It hopes to ensure these historic buildings are weathertight, safe and open for use.

Beth Hale the Secretary of the Chichester Diocesan Advisory Committee welcomed the grant. She said, “The grants were announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.

“The timescales to apply for this are exceptionally short - anyone wishing to benefit will need to move fast, as applications have to be in by the end of January, though if you are awarded a grant, you will then have reasonable time to complete the work.

“The first step will be to contact your Archdeacon and myself as soon as possible to let us know that you intend to apply for a grant, as the CBC has asked for an indication of the likely take up of the scheme.

“I will be available in the new year to answer any queries you may have with regard to your application.”

You should download all you need straight away from the national heritage site.

To be eligible for funding buildings must be listed and used for public worship.

Places of worship that have received a previous repair grant from English Heritage or the Heritage Lottery Fund and/or other Lottery distributor, and where that project is not yet finished, are not eligible to apply.

There is only one opportunity to apply to The Listed Places of Worship: Roof Repair Fund. The closing date for applications is noon, Friday January 30 2015. Decisions will be announced in March 2015.

Further information on how to apply can be obtained at the dedicated Listed Places of Worship: Roof Repair Fund website.

www.nhmf.org.uk/LatestNews/Pages/LPOWRoof.aspx or here www.lpowroof.org.uk