Around £110 million a year is spent on the upkeep of church buildings, most of which is raised by local congregations. Now the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme that allows all listed places of worship in the UK to reclaim the cost of VAT on vital repairs and maintenance is under threat and due to end in March 2011.

We call on the Government to continue the LPW Grant Scheme as small compensation for the millions of hours of unpaid work undertaken by congregations within their communities and as caretakers of this irreplaceable part of our national heritage.