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Church heating in South West

Church heating in Dorset

Dorset has around 250 Church of England churches, of which roughly 210 are listed buildings (84%). The county falls within the Diocese of Salisbury.

Churches in Dorset face the same heating decisions as the rest of England but local factors matter: the age and condition of the building, the electricity supply, planning constraints on listed fabric, and which grants apply. A church in Dorchester has different practical options from a rural parish church in open countryside.

We cover churches across Dorset, from Dorchester, Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth and Sherborne. Whether you are replacing an old gas system, considering infrared or a heat pump, or starting from scratch, we can help you compare the options for your building.

Dorset at a glance

250Church of England churches
210Listed buildings
SalisburyDiocese
DT, BHPostcode areas

Areas we cover in Dorset

We work with churches across Dorset, including those in and around Dorchester, Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth and Sherborne. Every church is different, so we start with your building, not a catalogue.

Heating options for Dorset churches

Which system suits a church depends on the building, the budget and how the space is used. These are the options worth considering.

Heating type

Air source heat pumps

Extracts heat from outdoor air and uses it to warm the building through radiators, underfloor pipes, or fan convectors. Runs on electricity.

Read the guide →Heating type

Biomass boilers

Burns wood pellets, chips, or logs to heat water, which is then circulated through radiators or underfloor pipes. Classed as renewable but not zero-carbon.

Read the guide →Heating type

Electric panel heaters

Wall-mounted convection heaters that warm the air around them using electric elements. Simple to install and familiar to most people.

Read the guide →Heating type

Gas radiant tube heaters

Overhead tube heaters that burn gas to heat a metal tube, which then radiates warmth downward to people and pews below.

Read the guide →Heating type

Gas warm-air heating

Blows heated air through ductwork into the building. Common in larger churches from the 1960s onwards, often mounted in a plant room or basement.

Read the guide →Heating type

Infrared radiant heating

Warms people and surfaces directly rather than heating the whole air volume, which suits tall, draughty church buildings that were never designed to be heated.

Read the guide →Heating type

Pew heaters

Electric heaters mounted beneath or behind pews, warming the congregation directly through convection or infrared radiation. Discreet and silent.

Read the guide →Heating type

Storage heaters

Charge up with heat overnight using cheaper off-peak electricity, then release it gradually during the day. A familiar technology in domestic settings.

Read the guide →Heating type

Underfloor heating

Heats the floor slab using either electric elements or hot-water pipes buried beneath the surface, providing gentle warmth from below.

Read the guide →

Grants available to Dorset churches

Most church heating grants are national schemes, but eligibility and priority can vary by area.

Benefact Trust

Benefact Trust Building Improvement Grants

A rolling grant programme for Christian places of worship and church buildings. Covers capital works including heating, energy efficiency and carbon reduction measures. Small grants under £25,000 are decided within about two months.

Check eligibility →UK Government (DLUHC)

Community Ownership Fund

A UK-wide fund helping communities take ownership of assets at risk of closure. Churches that are community-run or being transferred to community ownership may be eligible for capital funding up to £250,000 (or £1 million in exceptional cases).

Check eligibility →Church of England dioceses (varies by diocese)

Diocesan Grants and Loans

Many Church of England dioceses operate their own grant and loan schemes for parish churches, often including funds specifically for heating, energy efficiency or building repairs. Amounts and eligibility vary widely.

Check eligibility →Energy Saving Trust (on behalf of Ofgem)

Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme

A fund distributing voluntary payments made by energy companies that have breached regulations. Community buildings, including churches, can apply for grants to improve energy efficiency and reduce fuel poverty.

Check eligibility →Garfield Weston Foundation

Garfield Weston Foundation

One of the UK's largest independent grant-makers. Funds capital projects for churches including heating, with regular grants typically between £5,000 and £100,000. Churches must demonstrate community benefit.

Check eligibility →National Lottery Heritage Fund

National Lottery Heritage Fund

The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest dedicated funder of heritage in the UK. Churches with heritage significance can apply for grants from £10,000 to over £5 million for projects that conserve heritage and engage communities.

Check eligibility →UK Government (DCMS)

Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme

Now closed. The long-running VAT-refund scheme for listed places of worship stopped accepting applications, with a final-year cap of £25,000 per claimant and a hard cut-off of 31 March 2026. It has been replaced by the Places of Worship Renewal Fund.

Check eligibility →National Churches Trust

National Churches Trust Grants

The National Churches Trust runs several grant programmes for churches and chapels across the UK, funding urgent repairs, community facilities, and maintenance projects. Grants range from a few hundred pounds up to £50,000.

Check eligibility →National Lottery Community Fund

National Lottery Community Fund

The UK's largest community funder, distributing National Lottery money. The Awards for All programme offers grants of £300 to £10,000 for community projects, and larger programmes fund projects up to £500,000 and beyond.

Check eligibility →UK Government (DCMS), delivered by Historic England

Places of Worship Renewal Fund

The successor to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme: £92 million over four years for capital works to listed places of worship in England, any faith, with grants from £10,000 to £1 million.

Check eligibility →Salix Finance (on behalf of DESNZ)

Salix Finance / Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme

The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funds heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency in public sector buildings in England. Churches are not directly eligible, but church schools and buildings owned by local authorities may qualify.

Check eligibility →Wolfson Foundation

Wolfson Foundation

A major UK funder of capital projects including church buildings. Grants start at £15,000 through the Funding for Places programme. A separate Fabric Repair scheme with the National Churches Trust offers up to £10,000 for listed churches.

Check eligibility →

Planning a church heating project in Dorset?

Tell us about your church and we will come back with the options that suit your building, your budget and your timeline.

Start your enquiry

More in South West

Get a costed proposal for your building.

Tell us a little about your church and we'll chat through your options. No obligation.

Costed proposal

A heating map with options costed for your building, and what each one runs at.

Speak to an expert

Questions on permissions, the faculty process, or grant schemes? Just call.

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