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Restoration & Repair Grants

Have a look at Previous Grants Awarded to see the churches we have helped and the variety of projects we have supported.  The process is very simple, and not time consuming.  Download a grant application form; there are four to choose from depending on the denomination of your church (C of E, RC, Methodist, or Independent). Then fill in the form on your computer, and email it back to the Secretary (his email details are on the form) as an attachment together with the supporting documentation requested.

General Restoration & Repair Grants Criteria

Our Trust Deed states that our funds are applied for "the preservation and maintenance, improvement, upkeep, beautification and reconstruction of churches in Cornwall and of monuments, fittings, fixtures, stained glass, furniture, ornaments and chattels in churches and churchyards".

However, our resources are limited and therefore at present we prioritise our activities to structural work on roofs, rainwater goods, followed by electrical safety and heating systems.

As indicated above, we also support work on windows, monuments, paintings and clocks.

The Trust does not repair bells and organs, but it will help if the surrounding structure is involved. For example, often bell frames are an integral part of the tower, and we do consider helping with those.

We do not usually support new build kitchens and toilets, or re-ordering.

We do not provide funding for boundary walls unless they form part of the church building itself.

We do not fund car parks.

The maximum grant size is £4,000, or £5,000 for Church Friends (see below)

Process & Timescales

Once we have received the form, then arrangements will be made for your church to be visited, and a member of the Trust will discuss your project with you and see exactly what it is your church needs. The Trustees meet to consider Grants in February, May and October in each year.  To be processed, Grant Applications should be submitted to the Grants Secretary by the 1st. January, 1st. May and 1st September in each year. At the moment our maximum grant is £5,000, or £7,000 for signed up Friends of Cornish Churches.

If you have any questions, then please contact the Grants Secretary.

Application Forms for Repair & Restoration Grants

To download, click on the appropriate form below

Methodist Churches or Chapels

Roman Catholic Churches

Church of England Churches

Independent Churches or Chapels

Grants For Smaller Projects

This scheme covers smaller projects that fall outside the scope of regular maintenance. It is also designed to accommodate urgent repairs.

CHCT will offer grants of £1,000 or 20% of the cost of the scheme before VAT, whichever is less. The minimum grant size is £250. VAT may be reclaimable under the Listed Places of Worship (LPW) Grant Scheme.

The main criteria are:

The work MUST have been identified by QI report or report by regular maintenance contractor / builder;

Two quotes for the work must have been obtained;

Work costed between £1,000 and £10,000 before VAT

Confirmation that the work does not require a faculty or similar permission.

We will arrange for our committee member for your area or Deanery to contact you and to undertake a site inspection if necessary. You will receive a decision in a few days; it will not have to wait until the next scheduled grants meeting of the trustees. The full grant will be paid on completion of the work.

Work of this nature is unlikely to require a faculty, but you MUST consult with the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) or equivalent body for your denomination before proceeding. We will require evidence that you have done so before making any grant. Please note, the DAC has special arrangements for emergencies.

For further information contact the DAC Secretary, Mrs Sue Thorold on 01872 247216 or email

This scheme is similar to the National Churches Trust (NCT) Foundation Grant Programme, which encourages churches to act on small urgent maintenance issues. 

We hope that this initiative will help churches address maintenance issues on the grounds that a ’stitch in time saves nine’.

To apply, download the CHCT Smaller Project Grant form here

Maintenance Inspection Incentive Grants

After extended periods of lockdown and disruption to both services and fundraising activities many churches are facing acute financial hardship. The temptation is to reduce regular maintenance in order to cut costs but this only leads to greater problems in the long term as minor defects soon turn into major structural and funding challenges.

Church surveyors, Church Quinquennial inspectors and DACs are unanimous that wherever possible regular inspection and follow-up action will reap significant financial benefits and provide reassurance to hard-pressed PCCs. Ideally, these inspections should be undertaken by a contractor at least twice a year and incorporate:

Towers, valleys and roofs;
Cleaning and clearing all roofs and rainwater goods;
Identifying loose and cracked slates and tiles, repairing where easily accessible;
Full reporting on work undertaken and identification of potential further issues.

CHCT believes it is essential that all churches undertake maintenance and clearance inspections on a regular basis, even entering into formal arrangements with contractors for the work. As a result, we have introduced an incentive scheme whereby we will offer a one-off grant of £250 or half the cost of a twice-yearly inspection, whichever is lower, to any church in Cornwall. 

You are welcome to use your regular builder or contact; failing this our website contains a list of contractors (and other tradespeople) who can provide the level of service that we feel is appropriate. Please note that appearance on the list does not mean that CHCT is endorsing the levels and competencies provided; each Church should undertake its own checks.

In order to qualify each church should:

• Be Church Friends of CHCT
• Provide invoices for two six monthly inspections within a twelve month period from your builder or contractor, signed off by your treasurer, fabric officer priest, minister or incumbent, confirming that the inspection has been undertaken satisfactorily, using the form provided (here)
• Provide a copy of a recent bank statement

 

You do not have to wait until both inspections have been undertaken before submitting your application; if you prefer, we will pay half the grant on receipt of the first invoice and the balance on receipt of the second.

Please note that there is no cap on the overall number of applications we can accept, but each church may only apply once. We reserve the right to close the scheme to new applicants at any time.