The Northumbria Historic Churches Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £500,000 (2026 allocation)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Decisions made at three trustee meetings annually (approximately 1-2 weeks after each meeting)
• Grant Range: £2,500 - £15,000
• Geographic Focus: North East England (from the Tweed to the Tees)

Contact Details

• Website: www.northumbriahct.org.uk
• Email: Secretary@NorthumbriaHCT.org.uk
• Phone: 07761803408
• Pre-application support: Applicants are encouraged to consult the Secretary before applying, especially for urgent or complex cases

Overview

The Northumbria Historic Churches Trust (NHCT) was established in 1980 to help keep Christian churches of all denominations across the North East in good repair. The Trust's principal purpose is to assist with the conservation of churches of historic or architectural value in the Anglican dioceses of Durham and Newcastle, mainly through providing financial assistance towards the cost of repairs. Thanks to a number of very significant legacies received in recent years, the Trust has dramatically increased its funding capacity. In 2023, the Trust awarded £225,000 in grants, representing an increase of over 400% from the average annual funding of around £50,000 in previous years. The Trust has allocated £500,000 for grant-making in 2026, demonstrating a sustained commitment to supporting the region's church heritage. Current Chair John Anderson emphasizes “the importance of the Christian faith maintaining a wide geographical footprint in all forms,” while former Chair Robin Brims noted that “Churches are a vital part of local heritage, do great work in supporting local communities.”

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Main Grants Programme: £2,500 - £15,000 (typically £2,500 - £10,000)
• Applications accepted three times annually with fixed deadlines
• Online application process available on the Trust's website

Priority Areas

The Trust funds a wide range of church repair and improvement projects including:

• Building fabric repairs: Stonework repairs, roof works, rainwater goods, re-pointing
• Window conservation: Stained glass window repairs and stabilization
• Electrical and heating systems: New lighting, wiring, electrical distribution systems, heating system replacements
• Accessibility improvements: Access ramps, toilet installations
• Internal improvements: Plastering, floor tile replacement
• Community facilities: Kitchen and servery installations to support community engagement

Eligible organizations:

• Christian churches of any denomination
• Churches that are open regularly for public worship
• Located in North East England, covering Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, and County Durham
• Both listed and unlisted churches are eligible
• Churches from any era, including 20th century buildings

What They Don't Fund

• Organs
• Church clocks
• Bells (except where related to building fabric repairs)
• Work already started (rare exceptions may be made for unexpected repairs discovered during ongoing work, such as rotten structures revealed during roof repair)

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Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by a board of 10 trustees with expertise across architecture, heritage conservation, law, finance, and church administration.

Current Leadership:

• John Anderson (Chair since 2023) - A patron of a small country church in Northumberland and trustee of the Lord Crewe Charity for 20 years. He believes in “the importance of the Christian faith maintaining a wide geographical footprint in all forms.”
• Robin Brims CB CBE DSO DL (Former Chair) - Former Lieutenant General who stated “Churches are a vital part of local heritage, do great work in supporting local communities.”

Board Members (selected profiles):

• Joanna - RIBA Accredited Conservation Architect and Founding Director of Adelphi Architecture
• John (trustee) - Chartered Architect who has run his own practice for over 40 years and carried out works to over 30 churches for the RC Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle
• David - Solicitor who served as Deputy Diocesan Registrar for Durham Diocese
• Bill - Former Durham Diocese Housing Secretary and Care of Churches Secretary (38 years' experience)
• Laurie - Longstanding trustee, served as Treasurer until 2024
• Leanne - Senior Heritage Consultant with a Master's Degree in Building Archaeology from the University of York
• Liz - Experience in not-for-profit housing and construction organizations with Board-level experience
• Eddie - Expertise in broadcasting, communications and public affairs

Staff:

• Mark - Supports the NHCT trustees and acts as first point of contact for potential applicants

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online through the Trust's website at www.northumbriahct.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant. The online application form saves at each stage, allowing applicants to complete it over multiple sessions.

Required documentation:

• Second contact details
• Financial project information
• Recent church accounts
• Quinquennial report
• Photographs of the church showing repair needs
• Safeguarding Policy

Important restrictions:

• The Trust will only consider applications for work yet to begin (exceptions are rare and limited to unexpected repairs discovered during ongoing work)
• Individual churches can apply only once every three years
• Approved grants must be claimed within 2 years of award

Application deadlines for 2026:

1. Closing: Monday 2 February 2026 | Meeting: Tuesday 10 February 2026
2. Closing: Monday 15 June 2026 | Meeting: Tuesday 23 June 2026
3. Closing: Monday 5 October 2026 | Meeting: Wednesday 14 October 2026

Decision Timeline

Decisions are made at trustee meetings held three times annually. Decisions are typically communicated within 1-2 weeks following each trustee meeting. In exceptional circumstances, trustees may consider urgent applications outside the usual timeframe.

Success Rates

The Trust does not publicly disclose detailed application success rates or statistics. In 2022, the Trust helped 17 church projects, and in 2023 awarded £225,000 in grants. With the increased allocation of £500,000 for 2026, substantially more projects are expected to receive support.

Reapplication Policy

Individual churches can apply only once every three years. There is no specific information about whether unsuccessful applicants must wait three years before reapplying, or if this restriction applies only to successful applicants. Applicants should contact the Secretary for clarification.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's documented priorities and funded projects, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Clear building fabric focus: The Trust specifically supports repair and conservation work. Recent successful projects include roof repairs (St James Church, Benwell - £25,000), guttering works (St George's Church, Cullercoats - £15,000), window conservation (St Helen's Church, Cornhill-on-Tweed - £5,000), and stonework repairs (Hexham Abbey).

1. Community benefit alongside conservation: Projects that improve accessibility and community facilities while preserving the building fabric are well-supported. Examples include St John the Evangelist, Wallsend (£10,000 for new access ramp and toilet) and St James Church, Burnopfield (£10,000 for accessible toilet and servery).

1. Evidence of need through proper documentation: Applicants must provide quinquennial reports, photographs showing repair needs, and recent church accounts. This demonstrates systematic care and evidence-based need.

1. Regular worship requirement: Churches must be “open regularly for worship” - this is a fundamental eligibility criterion reflecting the Trust's mission to keep active churches operational.

1. Pre-application consultation for complex cases: The Trust explicitly encourages applicants to consult the Secretary before applying for urgent or complex cases, suggesting that early engagement can improve application quality.

1. Staged payment availability: For larger grants, the Trust offers staged payments, which may make larger projects more feasible and demonstrate the Trust's flexibility in supporting substantial repair work.

1. Diverse denomination support: The Trust has funded Anglican, Roman Catholic, and United Reformed churches, demonstrating genuine commitment to supporting all Christian denominations across the region.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Exceptional timing for applications: With £500,000 allocated for 2026 (more than double 2023's £225,000), this is an excellent time to apply to NHCT for church repair funding
• Don't assume ineligibility based on building age: The Trust explicitly accepts churches from any era including 20th century buildings, and both listed and unlisted churches are eligible
• Plan timing carefully around the three-year rule: Churches can only apply once every three years, so ensure you're applying for the most critical need or consider combining multiple repair needs into one comprehensive application
• Contact the Secretary early: Pre-application consultation is encouraged, especially for urgent or complex cases - this can help ensure your application is properly structured and eligible
• Submit complete documentation: Quinquennial reports, photographs, accounts, and safeguarding policies are all required - incomplete applications will delay or prevent consideration
• Apply before work begins: The Trust will not fund work already started except in rare cases of unexpected repairs discovered during other works - early planning is essential
• Consider larger projects: With grants up to £15,000 available and staged payment options for larger grants, don't automatically assume your project is too large - St James Church, Benwell received £25,000 for roof repairs

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• SIR JOHN PRIESTMAN CHARITY TRUST
• THE ST HILDA'S TRUST
• R W Mann Trust
• The Hadrian Trust
• THE SIR JAMES KNOTT TRUST
• The Gillian Dickinson Trust
• Lord Crewe's Charity
• The Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust
• Richard Henry Holmes Masonic Benevolent Fund
• Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust

References

• The Northumbria Historic Churches Trust official website: www.northumbriahct.org.uk
• NHCT Apply for a Grant page: https://www.northumbriahct.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant
• NHCT Our Story page: https://www.northumbriahct.org.uk/our-story
• NHCT Grants Awarded page: https://www.northumbriahct.org.uk/grants-awarded
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/511314
• Diocese of Durham news article: “A brighter future is on the horizon for the churches of Northumbria” - https://durhamdiocese.org/diocesan-news/a-brighter-future-is-on-the-horizon-for-the-churches-of-northumbria
• Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle: “Northumbria Historic Church Trust: Funding Opportunity” - https://diocesehn.org.uk/news/northumbria-historic-church-trust-funding-opportunity/
• National Churches Trust support organizations directory: https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/get-support/support-organisations/northumbria-historic-churches-trust