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Funds for Historic Buildings

  Fund Name CORNWALL HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST
       
  Programme Name
  
       
  Summary of Funding   The Trust, which was formed in 1955, exists solely to raise and distribute funds to support schemes for the restoration, repair and essential maintenance of churches and chapels in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, which are of architectural and historic importance.   
       
  Eligible Applicants   Custodians of buildings used for Christian public worship in the geographical area. The Trust has no denominational bias; churches and chapels of all denominations are eligible to apply for assistance.
       
  Geographical Coverage   See Summary above.
       
  Eligibility Criteria   Projects or schemes for the restoration and repair of the fabric. Few pleas for help are rejected, although the Trust's principal concern must be for churches and chapels which have an historic connection or are of special architectural interest. For Church of England projects it is essential to have a Diocesan Faculty.
       
  Other Considerations  

The Trust would be unlikely to approve grants for:
• routine minor maintenance and repair work which the church community could be expected to deal with itself; 
• redecoration other than when it follows from a major restoration scheme;
• re-ordering or the introduction of domestic facilities within the church;
• schemes which damage or adversely affect the building, especially its external appearance; 
• replacement or installation of heating systems for the comfort of the congregation; 
• redesign of the churchyard and work on tombstones, unless they have some significant historic associations; 
• repair and/or maintenance of associated buildings.


       
  Amount  

The Trust gives grants to historic churches of any Christian denomination, up to a current maximum of £4,000.

The grant is calculated as a proportion of expenditure, with the maximum limited to any shortfall in the cash already raised up to 25% of costs. Principal means of determining contribution is based on a points assessment system developed by the Trust.

Buildings of note could also attract an amount, at the Trust's discretion, from limited funds allocated by the Manifold Trust (see separate entry).


       
  Form of Payment   For grants of less than £1,000 payment is made as soon as Trust is notified that work on project has commenced. For grants of over £1,000, 50% on notification that work has commenced and 50% on completion.
       
  Size of Fund   Small.
       
  Application Form   Yes. Essential that it is completed and returned.
       
  Guidance Notes Available   Yes; an Information Booklet is supplied with every application form.
       
  Timetable   No specific requirements. Meetings to determine grants are held three times a year. Provided there is sufficient time to organise a visit to the church/chapel by two members and to provide a report to circulate with the agenda, an application would go to the next meeting.
       
  Contact   Simon Coy, Hon Sec
  Organisation   Cornwall Historic Churches Trust
  Address   Dipper Bridge, Ruthernbridge, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL30 5LU
  Telephone  
  Fax  
  E-mail   secretary@cornwallhistoricchurchestrust.org
  Website  
www.cornwallhistoricchurchestrust.org
       
  Further Information  

As an indication of the extent of its activities, 517 grants have been approved totalling £518,700 since the Trust was formed in 1955.  Grants approved in 2006 (the latest year for which the information is available) amounted to almost £24,000, going to 14 churches.
       
   
  AHF Comment  


   
       
  Related Funding Sources  
THE MANIFOLD CHARITABLE TRUST -
       
  Last Updated   19-10-2009