The United Kingdom government has earmarked more than £41m to renovate 74 historic buildings across England, including churches, synagogues, town halls, market halls and castles.
The funding was announced on Thursday by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Historic England and Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross.
The investment will be channelled through the Places of Worship Renewal Fund and the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, two initiatives designed to preserve historic structures in need of urgent repairs and conservation.
Both programmes are part of the government’s broader £1.5bn Arts Everywhere Fund, which aims to protect and improve the country’s cultural and heritage assets.
Under the latest allocation, 51 places of worship will receive more than £18m through the Places of Worship Renewal Fund, while almost £13m has been set aside for 20 projects under the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund.
A further £10m will be provided over the remainder of the current parliamentary term to support restoration work at three nationally significant heritage sites: Dover Castle, Brodsworth Hall in Doncaster and Osborne, the former family residence of Queen Victoria on the Isle of Wight.
The announcement followed a visit by Twycross to Margate and Ramsgate, where government funding is helping to restore the Grade II-listed Margate Museum and Old Town Hall, alongside urgent repair work at the Church of St George in Ramsgate.
Speaking on the importance of preserving historic structures, the heritage minister said the buildings remained central to the identity and social life of local communities.
“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.”
Among the religious buildings selected for support are Birmingham Cathedral, the Church of St Elwyn in Hayle, Cornwall, and the Sir Moses Montefiore Memorial Synagogue in Grimsby.
At Birmingham Cathedral, the planned restoration will focus on addressing deterioration affecting the tower and dome.
Work at the Church of St Elwyn will cover masonry repairs, the installation of new rainwater systems and the restoration of interior decorations and other parts of the building.
The grant for the Sir Moses Montefiore Memorial Synagogue will fund repairs to the structure of the ark within the late nineteenth-century building.
The synagogue has been described in the announcement as the only remaining synagogue in Lincolnshire and South Humberside.
Other projects benefiting from the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund include the Margate Museum and Old Town Hall, which will undergo major structural repairs to improve public access, safeguard its collections and make the facility more suitable for community activities.
The former Post Office on Abingdon Street in Blackpool will also receive funding for the initial phase of a project to convert the building into a community-led cultural and creative hub.
Historic England Co-CEOs Emma Squire and Claudia Kenyatta said the grants would help address pressing conservation challenges facing historic properties and places of worship across England.
“Historic places are at the heart of communities across England. They help shape the character and identity of the places we live, work and visit, and provide spaces where people can come together, connect and take part in community life.
“Through the first rounds of grants from the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund and Places of Worship Renewal Fund, which we’re proud to steward on behalf of Government, we are investing over £41 million to support 74 projects across England. These grants will support historic buildings and places of worship that face significant repair and conservation needs.”
English Heritage Acting Chief Executive Kate Logan also welcomed the funding for Dover Castle, Osborne and Brodsworth Hall, noting that the three sites required restoration to preserve their historical significance.
“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 Church of England’s lead bishop for buildings, the Bishop of St Albans, Andrew Rumsey, welcomed the grants awarded to churches and cathedrals, saying the funding would help congregations maintain their buildings and continue serving local communities.
“I am very glad to hear of those churches and cathedrals that have been successful in the first round of awards. These grants, to churches in areas of considerable need, will help pay for fabric repairs that enable worship, missional and social action to continue in our communities. They will relieve some of the fundraising burden felt by heroic local volunteers who care for our country’s built heritage.”
According to the government, the two funding schemes prioritise areas of England with the greatest needs, particularly communities where raising money for restoration projects is difficult and public investment can make a significant difference.
The Places of Worship Renewal Fund has a total allocation of £92m for the current parliamentary term, while the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund has been allocated £75m over the same period.
The government is expected to announce another list of beneficiaries under both schemes for the 2026/27 financial year at a later date.
