Support for our church buildings is an essential part of our mission. We want our buildings to be places of hospitality, hope and outreach, and to be the home of activities valued by our wider communities as well as worship.
There are a number of support packages available to enhance church facilities and supporting mission driven community engagement. If you would like to know more, talk to Tim Lewthwaite, Church Buildings Support Officer at cbso@newcastle.anglican.org.
Minor Repairs and Improvements Grant Fund
A total of £134,000 has been designated by the Church Commissioners for minor church repairs and improvements. A panel will allocate these funds, prioritising:
- Churches in areas of high deprivation
- Churches demonstrating clear need and vision
Applications have now closed and we await an announcement from the Archbishop’s Council on the potential of further funding to continue grants for the next Triennium. Any new grant funding opportunities through the MR&I will be announced through diocesan channels and detailed on this page.
Net Zero Quick Wins Grant
Churches looking to reduce their carbon emissions are now able to apply to the Diocese for a Net Zero Quick Wins grant.
These grants are available to help fund small scale decarbonisation projects, such as new LED lighting, pew heaters, insulation or updating electricity supplies.
The Quick Wins grant scheme is part of the diocesan and wider Church of England Net Zero Carbon programme, which aims to equip, resource and support all parts of the Church to reduce carbon emissions by 2030.
Contact Tim Lewthwaite at cbso@newcastle.anglican.org for more details.
Future deadlines will be decided by the panel at the next meeting and published after 24 August.
Application form for Net Zero Quick Wins Grant.
Applicants may also wish to refer to the Eligible Projects Overview.
The Places of Worship Renewal Fund
The Places of Worship Renewal Fund (PWRF) is now live.
Historic England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) have opened the £92 million PWRF to provide capital grants to support the repair of listed places of worship in England over a 4-year period.
Application Process
To apply, churches must first submit an online Expression of Interest (EOI). If invited to apply, full applications will need to be submitted by 5pm on Sunday, 26 July 2026.
A second round of EOIs will follow in September 2026.
Grant Amounts and Match Funding
- Grants range from £10,000 to £1,000,000 and are divided into small, medium, and large streams.
- Parishes are normally expected to contribute around 20% in match funding. In cases of clear financial need, grants of up to 100% may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Eligibility
- The church must be a listed building in England (Grade I, Grade II*, or Grade II).
- It must be a dedicated, active place of worship used for services a minimum of 6 times per year.
Eligible Works
- The fund covers urgent fabric repairs (such as roofs, masonry, timber, and drainage) and essential improvements (such as electrical upgrades, heating, toilets, and step-free access).
- The fund will not cover routine maintenance, such as gutter clearance, or day-to-day revenue costs, like gas and electricity bills.
Fund Priorities
- The fund is competitive, and priority will be given to projects in areas of England with the highest levels of deprivation.
- If your church does not fall within these specific areas, projects will be prioritised based on the greatest financial need, urgency of repair, and the community benefit provided.
You can find full guidance and access the EOI form directly on the Historic England website.
If you need further support, contact our Church Buildings Support Officer, Tim Lewthwaite at cbso@newcastle.anglican.org.