Lyons announces more support for repairs to historic churches
Date published:
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced a further £200,000 funding to support the repair of listed church buildings.
The fund, which covers 2026/27 and will be administered by the National Churches Trust, follows on from £200,000 funding for 2025/26 announced earlier this year.
Minister Lyons made the announcement at Bloomfield Presbyterian Church, where he saw work carried out thanks to a £55,000 grant from his Department, including repairs to the structure of a large arched stained-glass window.
Minister Lyons said:
“Churches have been under considerable pressure recently, particularly in the context of the UK-wide Listed Places of Worship VAT reclaim scheme ending in March of this year. I recognise the value of these much-used buildings to people, to the wider community and even to tourism and people’s pride of place.”
Claire Walker, Chief Executive of the National Churches Trust, said: “We are hugely grateful to the Department for Communities for this award of £200,000 and for its longstanding support for our work in Northern Ireland. This funding will enable us to continue helping places of worship to carry out urgent repairs, protecting these much-loved buildings and keeping them open and serving local people.
“Churches are an important part of Northern Ireland’s heritage and remain at the heart of communities across the country. The Department’s continued partnership with the National Churches Trust will make a real and lasting difference, helping congregations to safeguard these special buildings for everyone to enjoy, both now and for generations to come.”
Applications for funding for listed churches are open now and can be made via the National Churches Trust website at: www.nationalchurchestrust.org/get-support/applyforagrant.
Notes to editors:
- A public consultation on a historic environment policy for Northern Ireland has been developed as part of the Department for Communities’ Heritage, Culture and Creativity (HCC) Programme to provide renewed focus and direction for the arts, museums, public libraries and the historic environment. The consultation runs until 23rd October 2026 and can be accessed at: www.communities-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-historic-environment-policy-northern-ireland.
- The National Churches Trust is an independent charity wanting to keep the UK's collection of church buildings well maintained, valued and in use. Working on the ground in all four UK nations, it supports churches of all denominations. Its vision is to see open churches thriving at the heart of their communities. www.nationalchurchestrust.org/
- For media enquiries please contact the Press Office via email: press.office@communities-ni.gov.uk
- Follow the Department on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
- The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.