ALMOST three-quarters of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme funding remains available for the 2025-26 period. With seven months still to go in which applications can be made, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has published a tracker to indicate progress.

The tracker records that — of the £23 million available — £5,498,850 has been used to date. There is currently £591,237 worth of claims in progress. The 2025-26 scheme will close on 31 March 2026, or once the £23-million cap has been reached, whichever is earlier.

When the cap for the scheme was announced in January, the DCMS said that, on the basis of previous data, 94 per cent of individual claims were for an amount under £25,000, and that more than 70 per cent were under £5000 (News, 24 January). The funding was extended to £42 million a year in 2012, although only £29 million was claimed in the previous year.

In data gathered by Church House, however, more than 100 Anglican churches and cathedrals were engaged in building projects that would exceed the £25,000 cap on individual applications to the scheme and were in progress or due to begin this year (News, 21 March). At least 38 churches and cathedrals were undertaking initiatives at an estimated cost of more than £2 million, while 41 were undertaking multi-year projects, which would rely on a long-term funding solution from the scheme.