A renewed national funding commitment for listed churches has been welcomed by a Suffolk MP, after the Government reversed course on earlier plans.
The Government announced on Thursday that it is allocating £230 million for protecting and preserving heritage buildings, as part of a wider £1.5 billion cultural funding package.
Included in this £230m figure is a new £92m Places of Worship Renewal Fund, in recognition of ‘the important role religious heritage buildings play in the UK’s national story’.
This fund will replace the previous Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which last year was cut down to £23m, and controversially introduced an annual claims cap of £25,000 per building.
Announcing the new fund, the Labour Government’s Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, said: “At a time when forces seek to divide us, arts, culture and heritage are what bind us together.
“Our local cultural institutions aren’t just buildings – they’re part of who we are as a nation,
“This funding will keep the doors open and the lights on at thousands of arts organisations, museums, libraries and heritage buildings that might otherwise have been at real risk of closing.
“It will unlock opportunities for millions of people who have been shut out for far too long. That is the Britain we are rebuilding.”
In response, James Cartlidge, Conservative MP for South Suffolk, welcomed the new capital funding pledge, having previously called for the old grants scheme to be extended
However, he called for greater clarity on how churches in Suffolk would access this money.
“Places of worship are a vital part of my rural constituency,” said Mr Cartlidge.
“They not only stand at the centre of many villages and towns, but also serve as a source of support for people across the community.
“The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme was invaluable to churches across my constituency that rely on the stability the scheme brings to their funding,” he said.
“Whilst I welcome the Government’s U-turn on providing funding to listed places of worship, and the introduction of the Places of Worship Renewal Fund, I want to know how this will affect my local churches and their access to crucial funding.
“Every year I take part in the annual Ride n’ Stride for Suffolk churches. I’ll continue doing all I can to support Suffolk churches, but it’s time the Government did their bit.”
Published by Suffolk News.
