Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, is encouraging listed places of worship across Milton Keynes to check if they are eligible to receive Government funding for repairs after nine churches in his constituency received a share of £45,663 across the last year.
The Government's Listed Places of Worship Grants scheme recognises that there are particular challenges to looking after such cherished and historic buildings and aims to redress financial shortfalls, and to support our listed and protected architecture for the benefit of present and future generations.
The scheme provides grants towards the VAT paid on repairs and maintenance to the nation’s listed places of worship – of any religious group or denomination and presently handles around 7,000 claims per year, and applies to the whole UK.
Churches in Milton Keynes North which received a portion of the £45,663 funding since August 2022 are:
Willen Church
St Simon and Jude Church in Castlethorpe
St Peter & St Paul Church in Newport Pagnell
St Mary's Church in Haversham
St James Church in New Bradwell
St Andrews Church in Great Linford
Newport Pagnell United Reformed Church
Church of Saint Peter in Stoke Goldington
Broughton St Lawrence in Broughton
Ben Everitt MP said: "I'm delighted the Conservative Government is continuing to support these buildings which are so often at the heart of local communities and I would encourage any local place of worship in need of repairs to see if they are eligible to apply."
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. The building’s sole or main use must be as a public place of worship and it must be used for this at least six times a year. This is a time of year important to people of many faiths, and I wanted to highlight the Government’s investment in places of worship. They are often at the heart of our communities, bringing people of all ages together, and represent some of our finest heritage.