Churches in our diocese will be able to benefit from grants from the Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust (YHCT), who are welcoming funding applications from churches across the county for repair, restoration and maintenance work.
Due to donations and legacies received last year, the Trust is actively encouraging churches to apply for the next round of funding.
The application deadlines for 2024 are Friday, March 8 for consideration at the April grants committee and Friday, August 23 for consideration at the October grants committee.
For guidance and how to apply please click here.
Sally Firth, Churchwarden at Holy Trinity Church in Cookridge recently went through the application process, and said: “We were delighted to find the YHCT have no restrictions on the age of a building - our church was built in 1961, certainly not historic!
“The application form was short and simple to complete, with relevant straightforward questions.
“After we had submitted the application we were contacted to arrange a visit from one of the grant assessors.
“This visit was a chance for us talk through our application and let the assessors see the work that needed undertaking.
“We were also able to show the work we had already undertaken and talk about our plans for the future.
“We were told the date that the application would be considered and were delighted to find out soon afterwards that we had been successful.
“I would encourage anyone looking for funding to put forward an application”.
Tom Ramsden, the chairman of the YHCT, explained: “Grants are available for repairs to the church fabric, the walls, roofs, floors, tower, bell frames, windows, stonework, repointing and rainwater goods.
“Grants are also available for the conservation of fixture and fittings, such as monuments, furniture and stained glass and repairs to bells, clocks and organs.
“Applications are also welcome for investigatory work, eg where a cherry picker may be required to assess what repairs may be required.
“You can apply for this type of grant at any time of the year.
“Do contact Jonathan Stamp by email at grants@yhct.org.uk if you would like to discuss this.
“The YHCT have no set funding amounts but the grants range from £2,000 to £15,000, depending on the size of the works.
“The Grant Committee looks at how much the total project is and how much effort has gone into fund raising locally, and which other funders have been approached or confirmed their grants.
“The YHCT ideally like to be able to help a church or chapel who have neared the end of their fund-raising and only have a shortfall of say £10 - £15,000 to be able to start their project."