Stuart Anderson MP is delighted that more places of worship in Wolverhampton South West are set to benefit from the Government’s £42 million Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. St Jude's Church has been awarded £576.55, while St Michael’s and All Angels is set to benefit from £379.23 - bringing total government investment since August 2022 to £955 to support the preservation of these architectural treasures in Wolverhampton.
Nearly 5,000 religious buildings have received a share of up to £42 million in public funding ahead of this year’s festive celebrations, as the Government continues its support for the conservation of listed places of worship across the country. As more than one million people are expected to attend Midnight Mass and Christmas Day services, they might attend one of the 4,900 places of worship which have benefited from Government support over the last year to ease the cost of essential conservation and maintenance work. The money invested in church buildings has positive benefits to the wider community. The annual social and economic value of church buildings to the UK is worth around £55 billion.
Since 2010, the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme has invested £346 million in listed churches, synagogues, mosques and temples. The scheme provides grants towards the VAT incurred on repairs and maintenance to the nation’s listed places of worship – of any religious group or denomination. Eligible costs include works to the roofs, masonry, and monuments integral to the buildings. It aims to redress financial shortfalls, and to support our listed and protected architecture for the benefit of present and future generations.
Stuart Anderson MP: “Wolverhampton is a wonderful city with many diverse and cherished places of worship which bring communities and generations together. As we celebrate the festive period, I am delighted that two more places of worship at the heart of our community will benefit from government investment. St Jude's Church has been awarded £576.55, while St Michael’s and All Angels is set to benefit from £379.23 - bringing total government investment since August 2022 to £955. This will support the preservation of these architectural treasures in Wolverhampton.”
Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said: “As churches across the country fill up for Nativity plays and Christmas services, it’s a reminder of the huge role that they and other places of worship play in the lives of their community. The Listed Places of Worship Scheme supports these precious buildings, which are cherished by people of all faiths and none. With nearly 5,000 supported over the past year alone, I’m glad to see the difference it has made to visitors, worshippers, and the people who look after them for the benefit of future generations.”
People responsible for looking after listed places of worship can benefit from the scheme by visiting www.listed-places-of-worship-grant.dcms.gov.uk, which sets out the criteria for eligibility and details of how to apply.