GRANT APPLICATION CLOSING DATE IS MON 12TH FEBRUARY 2024

OUR FIRST MEETING IN 2024 IS THUR 22ND FEBRUARY 2024

Eligibility Criteria

The aim and purpose of Northumbria Historic Churches Trust is to support church communities by awarding grants for the restoration and repair of church buildings. These notes provide guidance on what the Trust does and does not fund.

To be considered for a grant a church must be:

  • Located within the North East region of England from the River Tweed in the north to the River Tees in the south (Click here to see our regional map)
  • Of any Christian denomination
  • A place of regular, public, Christian worship

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NEEDED FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS OVER £10,000

  • To be considered for a Large Grant of over £10,000, applicants will need to supply a supporting statement from their Diocese or District, confirming that the church has a reasonably long term, viable future and is not being considered for closure.  This is requested on the Grant Application Form.

What We Fund

  • Fabric repairs and restoration of:
    • Roofs
    • Masonry
    • Windows including stained glass windows
    • Heating systems
    • Electrical systems (where these are unsafe)
    • Lighting systems
    • Plumbing systems
    • Broken or damaged floor tiles
  • Installation of toilets and kitchen areas where this would enhance the community life of the church.
  • Internal decoration for the purpose of making good following a repair project.
  • Improvements to accessibility and disabled access.

All work and installations must be carried out to standards required by National Building Regulations.

What We Don’t Fund

  • Unfortunately, we are unable to support work that has already started, other than in exceptional circumstances, such as the discovery of additional structural problems that could not have been foreseen when a project started.
  • Routine upkeep of churches, which includes but not limited to boiler servicing routine redecoration, gutter cleaning.
  • Repairs to church halls, churchyards or car parks
  • Work that will be covered by an insurance claim
  • Work relating to organs, clocks and bells
  • Professional and consultancy fees

The Trust reserves the right to exercise reasonable judgement on the eligibility of all applications.