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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 Grants Secretary (his email details are on the form) as an attachment together with the supporting documentation requested.

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 minimum grant size is £250, the maximum is £5,000, or £7,000 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 early January, March, May and late September in each year.  To be processed, Grant Applications should be submitted to the Grants Secretary by the 1st. December, 1st. March, 1^st May and 1st September in each year. 

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

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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 25% 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

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Grant for a Hostile Climate - Maintenance and Kickstart Scheme for 2023

All churches are facing immense challenges that have only increased since the Pandemic. General uncertainty is resulting in essential maintenance work being delayed and the shelving of much needed capital schemes. In order to encourage churches to act sooner rather than later, we have set aside £10,000 for help with either routine maintenance or start-up costs incurred putting together major projects. Grants of up to £500 per church are available on a first come, first served basis. The Scheme will close when the funds have been allocated or on 31 December 2023, whichever is sooner. Participation in this scheme does not prevent churches from applying for other types of grant from CHCT.

Maintenance Grants

Church surveyors, church Quinquennial inspectors and DACs are unanimous that identifying loose slates, inspection and clearance of gutters, valleys, roofs and rainwater goods reap significant financial benefits and provide reassurance to hard-pressed PCCs. During times of financial restraint there is a temptation to reduce regular maintenance but this only leads to greater problems in the long term as minor defects soon turn into major structural and funding challenges.

CHCT is offering a one-off payment of £500 to cover the cost of inspection and clearance work as well as any remedial work that can be undertaken taken at the same time.

If you wish to apply, please return the application form (here), and send it to the Grants Secretary, together with the receipted invoice(s) from your contractor and a copy of a recent statement for the relevant church bank account.

Kickstart Grants

We know that some churches wish to undertake major projects that require a considerable amount of work before the fund raising process can start. Usually this involves professional advice and reports, making taking the first step even more daunting, especially when there are very limited resources available. 

In order to help overcome this hurdle, CHCT is offering a payment of £500 to help with project start-up costs such as surveys and feasibility studies. 

Your proposed project must meet our normal grant criteria; you should have received outline support from the DAC or equivalent body. If you would like to apply, please complete the application form (here) and send it to the Grants Secretary, together with a receipted invoice and a copy of a recent statement for the relevant church bank account. 

General Conditions for Maintenance and Kickstart Grants
Eligibility is restricted to Church Friends of CHCT.
The Scheme can be withdrawn at any time, without notice.
Each church can only apply once for one of the grants described above.
Churches that have received Maintenance Inspection grants in the past are not eligible to apply for the Maintenance grants in this scheme.
We reserve the right to refuse applications that do not meet our criteria.
Please note, costs incurred in engaging a professional fund raiser are not eligible.
Retrospective applications for Kickstart grants will not be accepted.

Church Friend membership – a Church Friend applying for a grant has the benefit of a maximum possible offer increased from £5,000 to £7,000 as well as being directed to other grant funding bodies which have helped with similar projects.  We very much hope that every church in the Duchy will become a Friend, the current cost being £50 per annum. Contact our membership secretary for more information