Support for churches and cathedrals across the UK announced by Chancellor
Churches and Cathedrals across the UK receive government funding to ensure they are maintained for generations to come.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne made the announcement on a visit to Wells Cathedral today (26 March 2015).
Wells Cathedral will receive an £160,000 share from the third and final round of the First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund, on top of £160,000 it received in previous rounds.
Overall, 55 Anglican and Catholic Cathedrals across England have benefitted from the £20 million fund, which will ensure that these valuable national monuments remain in a good and safe state of repair in order welcome the public as the centre of events commemorating the First World War.
These repairs also prevent further deterioration of the fabric of these listed buildings, ensuring that they remain in good repair for generations to come.
Going further, the Chancellor also today unveiled the 502 churches across the UK which will receive a share of the Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund to repair to their roofs, gutters and stonework.
This funding is from the £55 million Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund. The Chancellor is announcing £30 million funding for churches across the UK today, and many more churches across the country will be able to benefit from the £25 million second round of further funding, applications for which will open later in the year.
Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said:
Churches and Cathedrals are a unique part of our national heritage, and play a vital role in community life – we want to support them, and thanks to our long-term economic plan, we can.
Whether it’s our country’s future or these important buildings, the sun is shining and we’re starting to fix the roof.
The Rt Revd Dr John Inge, Bishop of Worcester and lead bishop for the Church of England’s cathedrals and church buildings said:
The cathedrals and parish churches of our land are jewels in the crown of our national heritage. As such, though cared for by the Church of England, they are everyone’s heritage and we are grateful that this has been recognised by the Government through these grants for essential repairs. This will enable these wonderful buildings the better to be used to serve the communities at the heart of which they stand, now and in the future.
This is in addition to the £42 million Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which has supported over 13,000 places of worship.