GRANTS

Dorset Historic Churches Trust exists to help conserve places of Christian worship of all denominations in the administrative county of Dorset, which are open for public worship.

The intention of Grant aid is to assist in the sympathetic repair of historic churches and chapels, or the historic fittings therein, to a standard that their architectural value merits and to ensure their continued use by the communities they serve.

Any cases of exceptional merit or need will be considered for our support if funds are available.

Any church wishing to apply for grant aid should contact their Deanery Area Representative for advice and assistance. A list of their contact details is here  Should you be uncertain about which DAR to contact, please send a message to either [email protected] asking for their details. We have recently updated our Grant Application form to enable applicants give us a clearer idea of their church's finances. The new Application form can be found here   All completed forms must be sent to your Deanery Area Representative. 2026's grant budget has been increased to £175,000.  Applications for the first Trustees meeting in 2026 are invited by 26 January (confirmed - note earlier than previously published) allow due time for consideration. Applications for the summer and autumn meetings are 1 June and 21 September respectively.  

Drawing down your grant when the work has been completed  

At their meeting on 23 October 2025, the Trustees were pleased to award grants for 14 churches totalling £79,000.  Details can be seen by scrolling down to the Table of Grants since 2018.     

Conditions

Dorset Historic Churches Trust exists to help conserve places of Christian worship of all denominations in the administrative county of Dorset.

The intention of Grant aid is to assist in the sympathetic repair of historic churches and chapels, or the historic fittings therein, to a standard that their architectural value merits and to ensure their continued use by the communities they serve.

Any cases of exceptional merit or need will be considered for our support if funds are available. A statement of the types of work which we are able to support and those that regrettably we cannot can be found here. Please note that we are not able to contribute towards VAT, which can often be re-claimed on Listed Buildings. When an offer of a grant is made the Trustees may agree an advance to assist with the cost of initial architect or associated professional fees, such as structural survey costs etc., where in their opinion the grantee has insufficient funds to cover the cost of early-stage work.

Applications are to be submitted on a Dorset Historic Churches Trust applications form with audited financial accounts attached, to the Deanery Area Representative of the Trust in the area in which the Church is located.

A grant cannot be made for repairs started or carried out before the application has been approved by a meeting of the Trustees, except where prior permission has been explicitly given by the Trust. This is obtained by contacting your Deanery Area Representative.

All projects must demonstrate need and a well thought-out approach, backed by professional advice and have the necessary permissions.

Our Grants normally only cover a modest proportion of the cost of repairs, and the church or chapel is expected to make a substantial contribution or to obtain grant-aid from other sources such as the Erskine Muton Trust Fund. Grants will be paid following completion of the works, on submission to the Treasurer of a receipted bill or Architects completion certificate.

The Trust reserves the right to refuse or delay payment where doubt exists over the completion of the works to a satisfactory standard.

Preference for the allocation of Grants will normally be given to applicants with a past record of support for the Trust though gifts or taking part in the annual Ride + Stride fund-raising event. (24.10.24)

We are confident that our records of grants awarded over the past 25 years are accurate and hope that those in the earlier years are too. If, however, you spot an error or omission for your church, please do not hesitate to let us know through our Postbox.  [email protected]