The National Churches Trust is one of the largest funders of church buildings in the UK. Its grant programmes are open to churches and chapels of all denominations, and to listed and unlisted buildings alike, though listed buildings in poor condition tend to score highest. The three main programmes
- Cornerstone, Gateway and Foundation - cover different scales of work, from major structural repairs down to feasibility studies and maintenance.
For heating projects specifically, the Trust does not run a dedicated heating fund. However, heating work that forms part of a wider repair or improvement scheme can be included in an application. If your church needs a new heating system alongside roof repairs or reordering, bundling the work into a single project can strengthen your case. Foundation Grants are also useful for funding the professional surveys and energy assessments that larger funders will expect to see before they consider a capital bid.
Grants are competitive and oversubscribed. A strong application will show clear need, community benefit, and evidence that the church has explored match funding. The Trust publishes guidance notes for each programme on its website.