Department for Culture Media and Sport

places of worship

We are responsible for managing the Government’s interests in the ecclesiastical built environment including the Ecclesiastical Exemption.

 

We also sponsor the Churches Conservation Trust and manage the contractors who administer the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.

The Churches Conservation Trust (CCT)
The CCT maintain and repair over 330 churches of architectural, historical or archaeological importance which are no longer needed for regular worship.


For further information please visit The Churches Conservation Trust website.


Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme
The Government is currently negotiating with the European Commission for a reduced VAT rate of 5% on repairs to listed places of worship.


As an interim measure, the Government has introduced a grant scheme under which listed places of worship are able to claim the full amount of VAT paid on eligible works carried out on and after 1 April 2004.


Claims for eligible works carried out between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2004 continue to receive the difference between 5% and the actual amount of VAT paid. The scheme is currently due to run until 2011.


For further information, including an application form, please visit the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme website, or call 0845 601 5945.

Ecclesiastical Exemption: The Way Forward
The church buildings of certain denominations are exempt from listed building controls.
The exemption presently applies to six denominations in England and Wales:

  • the Church of England,
  • the Church in Wales,
  • the Roman Catholic Church,
  • the Methodist Church,
  • the United Reformed Church
  • the Baptist Union of Great Britain and the Baptist Union in Wales.


The system was reviewed under consultation during 2004, and “Ecclesiastical Exemption - The Way Forward” was published on 28 July 2005.

The individual denominations can now develop Heritage Partnership Agreements in negotiation with English Heritage (EH)  and local authorities.
Under these agreements EH will be given the power to oversee the denominations’ management of their buildings.

Welsh Assembly Government will be making separate arrangements for reviewing the exemption in Wales.

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