More funds set to be allocated for church restoration

Church restoration is an important concern at the moment, as many of the UK’s most important and historic places of worship have suffered damage and wear and tear over the years. Sadly, there have also been many reported cases of thieves taking lead from church roofs to sell on, resulting in extensive damage. There are approximately 1,100 historic places of worship throughout the UK which are currently on National Buildings at Risk Registers, which illustrates the need for urgent repairs to take place.

Despite the urgency of the situation, a lack of funding is blocking many churches from having necessary work carried out. The Listed Places of Worship: Roof Repair Fund was created in 2014 to address this problem, and further funds were added in the 2015 Budget as it became apparent that demand for funds was higher than expected. A further £25 million is set to be added in 2016.

The fund covers the repair and restoration of roofs, towers, cupolas and guttering systems, as well as spire coverings, tiles and shingles on listed church buildings. It can also be used to upgrade and improve buildings, for example to replace old gutters with newer systems which are more able to cope with increased rainfall.

In order to qualify, churches must be listed, they must require church or guttering repairs within the next two years, and they must hold at least six services per year after the funded work has been completed. Churches which are currently closed due to disrepair must have closed within the last year to receive the grant.

As experienced steeplejacks, we fully understand the important role that churches play in many communities throughout the country, which is why we work hard to carry out full and comprehensive church restoration wherever it is required. From repairs to tile replacements to full restorations, we carry out a wide range of tasks and are always ready to take on a new challenge. We welcome the addition of more money to this important fund and look forward to restoring even more places of worship to their former glory throughout 2016.