Places of worship
Thanks to National Lottery players, since 1995 we have invested more than £970million in places of worship across the UK.
Our funding has helped to conserve and restore buildings so that they can be enjoyed by the wider community. With our support, thousands of people of all faiths have brought the heritage of their place of worship to life.
In Scotland, we continue to work in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland to deliver funding for places of worship.
What sort of project might we fund?
- exploring the building and bringing it to life through new interpretation, alongside necessary repair works
- running heritage learning activities and community events, and creating space for them by carrying out minor alterations to the fabric
- exploring, conserving and interpreting the biodiversity of external spaces including graveyards and cemeteries
- providing better access to heritage by digital means
- community events to involve people in recording the removal, repair and reinstallation of bells, organs, hatchments and benefactor boards, alongside the repairs
- opportunities for people to learn about the art in places of worship, alongside a programme of conservation, such as stained glass, memorials and monuments, wall paintings, statues, historic fixtures or graffiti
- discovery, conservation and learning about the creatures that live in the building, such as bats or birds of prey
- activities to help your group manage heritage more effectively, such as researching existing and new audiences, or trying new approaches to fundraising or income generation
How to get funding
Each of our funding programmes has detailed guidance and further resources to help you apply. Find out whether you are eligible for funding.
You might also want to explore the Listed Places of Worship grants scheme.
News
Cathedrals: bringing the UK’s ancient monuments to life
News
£5.5million awarded to conserve cathedrals and churches across the UK
Publications
Grants for Places of Worship programme evaluation
News
The changemaker churches supporting their local communities
Projects
St John's Church pairs spire repair with Worksop community activities
An eco church in Nottinghamshire is making urgent repairs to their spire, inviting the local community to engage with the church’s heritage, and creating a social isolation café.
Videos
Inspiration for your heritage project
Projects
Harvesting heritage at Stoke Lacy Parish Church
New partnerships have helped the Herefordshire church repair its tower, bolster local wildlife and share its heritage with more people.
News
£4.3million supports places of worship in Midlands and East of England communities
Projects
Reawakening St Mary Magdalene for Newark communities
St Mary Magdalene Church is undergoing a revival to transform the Grade I listed building into a vibrant community hub.
Programme
National Lottery Heritage Grants £10,000 to £250,000
Programme
National Lottery Heritage Grants £250,000 to £10million
Projects
The Way Forward: St Mary’s Church, Stebbing
At the church of St Mary the Virgin in Stebbing, Essex, a programme of major repairs and improvement will remove the church from the Heritage at Risk register and create an inviting community hub.
Projects
Leicester Cathedral's Journey of Renewal
The Leicester Cathedral Revealed project is blending tradition with innovation to rejuvenate this much-loved place of worship and welcome.
Projects
Divine Beauty: restoring Birmingham Cathedral's stained glass treasures
Innovative methods of engaging visitors have complemented the restoration of a stunning set of stained glass windows by Birmingham-born Pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones.
Projects
Regenerating St Peter’s as a cultural hub for Sudbury
St Peter’s Cultural Venue is being transformed into a new arts, heritage and learning space at the heart of Sudbury, Suffolk.
Stories
All creatures great and small: helping church communities care for their bats
Projects
Restoring and reinterpreting Auckland Castle
This bold heritage-led regeneration project aims to create inspiring experiences and learnings on faith for visitors to County Durham.
News
£12.2million investment to help save UK’s historic buildings
Projects
St James Aslackby: Preserving Heritage, Fostering Community, and Bringing History to Life
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St James Aslackby are using the building’s heritage to make it a vibrant space for the community.