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Founded in 1953, the Historic Churches Preservation Trust (now the National Churches Trust), under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen, is the leading fundraising body involved in the restoration of architecturally and historically significant parish churches. Over the decades, work that was originally begun to reverse the neglect brought about by the socio-economic changes of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and to repair the damage of World War II, has become increasingly important and far-reaching.
As an independent charitable enterprise, credit for our achievements is due to our Trustees, staff and supporters. Trustees have included Sir Winston Churchill, Sir John Betjeman, HRH The Duke of Gloucester, Sir Edward Maufe, V I Croome, Alec Clifton–Taylor, Arthur Deakin and Sir Arthur Bryant. As our first Chairman, the passion, commitment and determination Ivor Bulmer–Thomas brought to the role has been continued by five formidable figures, with the position currently held by Michael Hoare.
It is perhaps not surprising that the Trust has helped virtually every church named in Simon Jenkins’ “England’s Thousand Best Churches”. Whichever way one analyses the grants – by architectural style or importance, historical interest or significance, by geographical area, by rural or urban community, by denomination – the Trust’s net has been spread wide.
Wales is the “newcomer” to the grants system, as the Trust’s remit was only extended to the Principality in 1987. Thanks to the generosity of the Esme Mitchell Trust, since 1984 a small number of churches in Northern Ireland have also been helped.
The donations and legacies we have already received from our supporters have enabled us to award over £27 million in grants and loans to churches of all denominations, in all four corners of England and Wales.
The County Trusts
Spreading awareness of the needs of churches and encouraging participation in their restoration and revival at both national and local level has also always been an important part of the Trust’s remit. Six local County Trusts – in Cheshire, Essex, Kent, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire and Wiltshire – were active in 1953. Since then, most of England has been covered. The Trust has often helped with the first essential tranche of money to get things under way, but the County Trusts are all individual and independent. Representatives from the local Trusts have always been members of the Trust’s Grants Committee and their ground level knowledge is essential in understanding the situation and pressures facing the local area. At the time of writing, only Wales, Lancashire, Cumbria and the metropolitan districts of London, Birmingham and Merseyside have no local Trust.
Today, our role is as much about revitalisation as renovation; helping not only maintain the bricks and mortar of church buildings, but to also create spaces that as well as fulfilling their traditional role, will meet many of the other social needs of the local community.
For a more in-depth résumé of the Trust, please click here.
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