The National Churches Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £2.9 million (2024)
• Success Rate: 25% (approximately 1 in 4 applications)
• Decision Time: 4-8 months (depending on application round)
• Grant Range: £500 - £50,000
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)

Contact Details

Website: www.nationalchurchestrust.org

Email: info@nationalchurchestrust.org

Phone: 020 7222 0605

Grant Enquiries: grants@nationalchurchestrust.org

Overview

The National Churches Trust was established in 2007, succeeding the Historic Churches Preservation Trust (founded 1953). The charity supports church buildings of historic, architectural and community value across the UK. In 2024, the Trust awarded 314 grants totalling £2.9 million in funding to places of worship across every nation of the UK. Their vision is that church buildings are well maintained, open to everyone, sustainable and valued. The Trust has awarded over 2,000 grants since 2013, with 40% of funding allocated to churches in the most deprived areas. Their groundbreaking “House of Good” research demonstrated that for every £1 invested in churches, the resulting benefits to society are worth over £16. The original 2020 research showed church buildings providing £12.4 billion per year in economic and social value; this was updated in 2021 to £55 billion per year when HM Treasury updated its Green Book methodology.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Large Grants: £3,000 - £50,000

• For major urgent structural repair projects costed at more than £80,000 including VAT
• Projects introducing kitchens and accessible toilets for community use (costed at more than £30,000 including VAT)
• Average grant size: £15,000
• Largest recent grant: £40,000
• Grants never exceed 50% of project cost
• Two-stage application process
• Three application rounds per year with decisions in March, July, and November

Medium Grants: £500 - £10,000

• Urgent and essential maintenance and repair projects costing up to £80,000
• Project development and investigative work up to RIBA planning stage 1
• Grants never exceed 50% of net project costs
• Expression of interest required first to grants@nationalchurchestrust.org
• Selected projects advised of next steps
• Note: As of March 2025, the former Small Grants programme has been merged into Medium Grants

Cherish Grants: (Programme funding ended)

• Historic programme that supported churches in Scotland, Wales, and North West England (Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester)
• Provided maintenance, urgent repair work, or project development grants
• Note: While the grant programme has ended, Cherish continues to provide support through training sessions, events, heritage trails, and mentoring

Wolfson Foundation Grants: Administered through Large/Medium programmes

• Since 2020, churches can apply for Wolfson Foundation funding via NCT applications
• Single application can result in multiple grant awards from NCT and partners

Priority Areas

• Urgent structural repairs and essential maintenance
• Projects that keep churches open and accessible
• Buildings in deprived areas (40% of funding allocation)
• Grade I and Category A listed churches
• Churches at risk or on Heritage at Risk Register
• Community use beyond worship (kitchens, accessible toilets)
• Churches open more than 100 days per year

What They Don't Fund

• Work already started or completed (unless urgent structural work justified)
• Projects that don't meet minimum threshold costs
• Churches not open for at least six services per year
• Same project twice (will fund new phases or new projects)
• More than 50% of any project cost

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Governance and Leadership

Chair: Sir Philip Rutnam (appointed September 2022)

Chief Executive: Claire Walker (since 2011) - Walker has extensive professional fundraising experience in the charity sector, having worked with Parkinson's UK, The Royal British Legion, and Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice. Under her leadership, the Trust has celebrated work at Westminster Abbey and St Paul's, launched impactful campaigns, and published the widely acclaimed “House of Good” report.

Trustees: Board includes heritage and church professionals, representatives from across the UK:

• Gerald Corbett DL (businessman with 30+ years executive experience)
• Shirley Adams (trustee of five grant-giving charities in Greater Manchester)
• Henry Stanford (chartered accountant and Reader in Suffolk benefice since 2008)

Grants Committee: Made up of NCT Trustees and heritage and church professionals who make final funding decisions three times annually.

How to Apply to The National Churches Trust

How to Apply

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a Christian place of worship in the UK
• Open for at least six services per year
• All documentation required with application
• Must complete eligibility quiz before applying (all answers must be “yes”)

Application Methods:

• Large Grants: Two-stage process. Stage 1 is simple form to check suitability (assessed by staff). If successful, Stage 2 involves more complex form for Grants Committee review
• Medium Grants: Expression of interest submitted to grants@nationalchurchestrust.org first. Selected projects advised of next steps
• Online application portal: nationalchurchestrust.benefactorcloud.co.uk
• Video guidance and preparation documents available

Required Documentation:

• Must submit all documentation with application
• Trust cannot chase applicants for missing items due to volume
• Guidance notes contain full list of supporting documents

Decision Timeline

Grants Committee Meetings: Three times per year (March, July, November)

Large Grants Timeline:

• Applications submitted in March receive decisions in July (4 months)
• Applications submitted in July receive decisions in November (4 months)
• Applications submitted in November receive decisions in March (4 months)

Overall Timeline: 4-8 months from submission to final decision

Notification: Applicants informed of Committee decisions after each meeting

Success Rates

Current Success Rate: 25% (approximately 1 in 4 applications)

• Trust helps 1 in every 4 applications
• Cannot guarantee success for any applicant
• Very few largest grant requests successful at level requested

Recent Grant Activity:

• 2024: 314 grants totalling £2.9 million awarded
• 2023: 251 grants awarded, £2.27 million distributed

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful Applicants: Can reapply only if there is material change to project cost or income. Trust cannot change Committee decisions.

Successful Prior Applicants: Can apply for each new phase of works or new project, but Trust will not fund the exact same project twice.

Feedback: Trust provides feedback explaining areas where application was weaker against scoring criteria.

Application Success Factors

Scoring Criteria

Applications scored against criteria including:

• Need for work: Urgency and essentiality take priority
• Case for investment: Strong justification required
• Risk management: How project addresses building risks
• Building significance: Heritage value, listing status
• Priority area considerations: Location in deprived areas
• Use beyond worship: Community engagement and accessibility
• Risk status: Whether building on Heritage at Risk Register

Direct Advice from the Trust

Before Applying:

• “Read the form and any guidelines carefully”
• “Give as much detail as possible”
• “Back up all claims with evidence from consultations or research”
• "Consistently relate the project back to the funder's priorities"
• Check eligibility criteria carefully - don't waste time on ineligible applications

Multiple Applications Strategy:

• “Apply for as many grants as possible while continuing to fundraise locally”
• “Make as many applications as you can at the same time”
• "Don't wait for the outcome of their grant before applying to other bodies for help"
• If receiving more funding than needed, can explain to funder and turn down grant without affecting future relationships

Timing:

• “Most grant funders will not fund activities that have already taken place”
• “Unless urgent structural work can be justified, applicants should not start work until they have received confirmation of funding”

Post-Award Requirements:

• Grant recipients must be open more than 100 days per year
• Must feature on NCT's Explore map

Recent Successful Projects

St Grada & Holy Cross Church, Cornwall (Grade I Listed)

• Issue: Failing roof with timbers and slates allowing water to flood church
• Award: £30,000 NCT Grant + £5,000 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant + £10,000 Headley Trust
• Project: Urgent roof repairs

Paisley Abbey, Scotland

• Issue: Emergency gutter repairs to remain watertight
• Award: £50,000 NCT Grant + £10,000 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant
• Project: Urgent gutter repairs

Standing Out

• Demonstrate urgency and risk to building
• Show strong community engagement beyond worship services
• Evidence of local fundraising efforts and multiple funding applications
• Clear maintenance plans and long-term sustainability
• Buildings in deprived areas particularly prioritised
• Heritage significance (Grade I/Category A listings advantageous)
• Plans to increase accessibility and community use

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Play the numbers game: With 25% success rate, apply simultaneously to multiple funders. Trust actively encourages this approach and views it positively.

1. Urgency is critical: Applications prioritised based on need urgency. Emphasise immediate risks to building and consequences of delayed action.

1. Match to mission: Align with Trust's “House of Good” research demonstrating church value to communities. Show social and community benefits beyond worship.

1. Open and accessible: Commit to 100+ days open annually. Highlight community use, accessibility improvements, and public engagement.

1. Don't pre-empt funding: Unless structurally urgent, don't start work before confirmation. Starting early can disqualify application.

1. Complete applications only: No second chances for missing documentation. Ensure all required materials submitted first time.

1. Use two-stage process strategically: For Large Grants, Stage 1 is staff-assessed - make strong initial case to progress to Committee review.

1. Leverage partnership funding: Single application can unlock multiple grants (NCT, Wolfson, Headley Trust). Mention you're aware of this in application.

1. Deprivation counts: Churches in most deprived areas receive 40% of funding - highlight socioeconomic context if applicable.

1. Learn from rejection: If unsuccessful, request feedback on scoring weaknesses. Can only reapply with material cost/income changes.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The National Lottery Heritage Fund
• The Wolfson Foundation
• National Lottery
• Benefact Trust Limited
• Talbot Village Trust
• Christian Aid
• The Prudence Trust
• Botanic Gardens Conservation International
• Catholic Agency For Overseas Development
• Churches Conservation
• Prevent Breast Cancer
• Classics For All
• Impact Foundation
• The Lighthouse
• Heritage Lottery Fund
• Royal Hospital Chelsea Appeal Limited
• The Rivers Trust
• Renewable World
• Tate Foundation
• Pragya

References

1. National Churches Trust - Our Grants: https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/get-support/grants

1. National Churches Trust - Large Grants: https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/get-support/grants/large-grants

1. National Churches Trust - Medium Grants: https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/get-support/grants/medium-grants

1. National Churches Trust - Cherish Grants: https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/cherish-grants

1. National Churches Trust - Grants FAQ: https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/get-support/grants/grants-faq

1. National Churches Trust - Annual Review 2023-2024: https://nationalchurchestrust.org/sites/default/files/2024-09/GADS1847%20-%20NCT%20%E2%80%93%20Annual%20Review%202023%20WEB%20AMEND%2026.09.2024.pdf

1. National Churches Trust - About Us: https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/about-us

1. National Churches Trust - Our People: https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/about-us/our-people

1. National Churches Trust - Our History: https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/our-history

1. National Churches Trust - The House of Good: https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/thehouseofgood

1. National Churches Trust - Applying for Grant Funding: https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/get-support/buildings-maintenance/applying-grant-funding

1. Charity Commission - THE NATIONAL CHURCHES TRUST (1119845): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1119845