Provided by the Government as part of its wider £1.5 billion Arts Everywhere Fund, the new £92 million Places of Worship Renewal Fund (PWRF) offers capital grants for essential repairs and related works at listed places of worship. The investment is targeted at areas of high deprivation in England. Historic England is delivering the programme.
£23 million available annually for the next four years with three levels of grants:
- Small awards of £10,000 to £50,000
- Medium awards of £50,001 to £350,000
- Large awards of £350,001 to £1 million.
Applications will be accepted from any listed place of worship in England, of any faith or denomination, that is:
- An active place of worship used for worship for a minimum of six times per year.
- A dedicated place of worship (in other words, not fully converted to another use).
- Able to demonstrate that the works are necessary, deliverable and aligned with the fund’s requirements.
The funding can support essential capital works that keep buildings safe, open and in public use, including:
- Urgent fabric repairs (roofs, masonry, timber, drainage)
- Essential improvements (electrical upgrades, heating, toilets, step‑free access)
- Professional fees and surveys related to eligible capital works
- Limited additional works that support future long-term sustainability (such as loft hatches, improved rainwater goods)
- Proportionate interventions that support sustainable community use.
Building must be listed at Grade I, Grade II* or Grade II, involve an active place of worship involve the types of repair, conservation and conversion activities in line with the programme. Two Expression of Interest rounds per year in the first three years with a single round in the fourth year. First Expression of interest deadline is: 14 June 2026 and second is in September 2026.