TORIES PLEDGE CHURCH REPAIR FUNDING – Badenoch vows to restore grants for churches amid concerns over closures
Kemi Badenoch has pledged to restore funding for church repairs, as part of a commitment to protect Britain’s Christian heritage.
The Conservatives say they will reinstate the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which helps cover VAT costs for maintaining churches and historic religious buildings.
The move follows government plans to replace the scheme with a new, capped funding model—raising concerns among faith groups about long-term support.
Badenoch says churches remain central to community life and must be preserved, warning that historic buildings could be lost without proper investment.
The announcement also comes amid rising reports of crime at places of worship, including theft, vandalism and arson across parts of England.
The party says protecting churches is not only about faith, but safeguarding national heritage and local communities.
