UK Govt Announces £41m Fund For Churches, Castles And Heritage Buildings

The United Kingdom government has announced more than £41m in funding to support the restoration of historic churches, synagogues, town halls, castles and other heritage buildings across England.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Historic England and Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross announced the beneficiaries on Thursday, October 15, 2026.

The Places of Worship Renewal Fund will provide more than £18m to 51 places of worship, while nearly £13m will support 20 projects through the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund.

Three additional national heritage sites — Dover Castle, Brodsworth Hall in Doncaster and Osborne on the Isle of Wight — will receive support through an additional £10m allocated across the remainder of the current parliament.

The funding forms part of the government’s £1.5bn Arts Everywhere Fund.

Announcing the investment, Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross said: “Nothing tells the stories of our nation quite like the historic buildings at the heart of our communities.

“But too often they are a far cry from their former glory with leaking roofs and crumbling stonework.

“Thanks to this funding, the much loved buildings that fill our hometowns with character will be keeping the doors open to communities for years to come.”

According to the announcement, the schemes prioritise areas facing the greatest need, where fundraising can be particularly difficult and government funding can have the greatest impact.

Here is the full list of beneficiaries published

the government.
Places of Worship Renewal Fund: 51 recipients

The fund supports historic places of worship requiring repairs and conservation work.

North of England — 13

1. Church of the Sacred Heart, Blackpool
2. Church of St Helen
3. Roman Catholic Church of St Anthony, Liverpool
4. Roman Catholic Church of St Matthew, Liverpool
5. Church of St Mary, Liverpool
6. Queens Hall Methodist Mission, Wigan
7. Church of St Joseph, Wigan
8. Priory and Parish Church of St Mary, Lancaster
9. Holy Trinity Church, Blackburn
10. Cathedral of St Nicholas, Newcastle
11. St Alphonsa Cathedral, Preston
12. Church of St John, Workington
13. Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady and St Columba, Wallsend

Yorkshire and the Humber — 7

14. Church of St John, Bowling, Bradford
15. Sir Moses Montefiore Memorial Synagogue, Grimsby
16. Grims

Minster, Grimsby
17. Church of St Bartholomew, Rotherham

18. Church of St Catherine of Siena, Sheffield
19. Church of All Saints, Doncaster
20. Church of St Agnes, Leeds

Midlands — 7

21. Our Lady’s Lillington, Leamington Spa
22. St Patrick’s, Birmingham
23. Birmingham Cathedral, Birmingham
24. St Paul’s Church, Birmingham
25. St Mary de Castro, Leicester
26. St Edmund’s Church (Bottom Church), Dudley
27. St Stephens Church in Sneinton, Nottingham

East of England — 8

28. Cromer Methodist Church
29. King’s Lynn Minster
30. St. Peter’s Church, Great Yarmouth
31. St. Andrew’s Church, Great Yarmouth
32. St. Nicholas’ Chapel, King’s Lynn
33. All Saint’s Church, Elm
34. St. Andrew and St. George Church, Stevenage
35. St. Nicholas’ Church, Dereham

London and South East — 3

36. Church of St George, Ramsgate
37. Church of All Saints, Hanworth
38. Church of St Mary’s, Hornsey Rise, London

South West — 13

39. Church of All Saints, Wyke Regis, Weymouth
40. Church of St Mary, Tamerton Foliot
41. Church of St Mary the Virgin, Brixham
42. Parish Church of St Martin, Liskeard
43. Wesley Methodist Church, Launceston
44. Church of St Stephen, West Putford
45. Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Paignton
46. Church of St Swithun, Pyworthy
47. The Primitive Methodist Church, St Ives
48. Parish Church of All Saints, Torre
49. Church of Holy Trinity, Milton Damerel
50. Church of St Matthias, Plymouth
51. Church of St Elwyn, Hayle

Heritage at Risk Capital Fund: 20 recipients

The fund supports heritage buildings in greatest need of repairs, with an emphasis on their role in local communities.

North of England — 6

1. Gorton Monastery, Manchester
2. The Prudential Building, Oldham
3. Prescot Picture Palace
4. Shildon Railway Institute
5. Former Post Office, Abingdon Street, Blackpool
6. 8 & 9 Church Street, Hartlepool

Yorkshire and the Humber — 1

7. Grimbarians Studios, Grimsby

Midlands — 2

8. Burslem Market Hall and Retail Units, Stoke-on-Trent
9. Bret

Art Pottery Showroom, Woodville
East of England — 3

10. Bourne Mill, Colchester
11. The Kursaal, Southend-on-Sea
12. Sommerfeld & Thomas Warehouse, King’s Lynn

London and South East — 4

13. Hastings Castle
14. Wymering Manor, Portsmouth
15. Newport Guildhall, Isle of Wight
16. Margate Museum and Old Town Hall

South West — 4

17. The Pin Factory, Gloucester
18. The Fleece Hotel, Gloucester
19. The Moor Imagination Centre at Buckfastleigh Methodist Church
20. Banqueting Hall and East Tower – Oldway Mansion, Torbay

Three additional national heritage sites

The government also announced major restoration projects at three sites in the care of English Heritage, supported

an additional £10m across the remainder of the current parliament.
– Dover Castle: Restoration of its defensive fortifications.

– Brodsworth Hall, Doncaster: Roof repairs to conserve the building.

– Osborne, Isle of Wight: Major roof repairs at Queen Victoria’s former family residence.

English Heritage Acting Chief Executive Kate Logan said: “Dover Castle, Osborne and Brodsworth Hall are amongst this country’s most important historic sites, landmarks in their local communities, and places that help us understand our national story.

“All three sites are in need of repair, and our charity is grateful to the Government for this vital support so that people can continue to enjoy them.”

The Places of Worship Renewal Fund is worth £92m across the current parliament, while the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund is worth £75m over the same period.

The government said a second round of recipients for both funds for the 2026/27 financial year would be announced at a later date.