Churches Tourism Association

Unless the Government takes action, historic church buildings will soon lose the right to a special VAT refund on repairs, which will push up the net cost of repairs by 20% and threaten the future viability of some churches. Please act now to support this campaign: see how to do this on the Church Care website.

The new Government has also closed the online petition system, with the loss of 9,000 signatures collected in support of this campaign before the General Election.  It is therefore all the more important to write to local MPs to stress the need for this scheme.

The Church Care website offers more details of the campaign to save the scheme, including news of an Early Day Motion (signed by 16 MPs) and a downloadable letter for MPs here.

Please support the campaign by sending a letter to your MP!To learn more about the LPWGS see www.lpwscheme.org.uk  

The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS ) currently enables the refund of 100% of VAT incurred on repairs and maintenance work to the Listed church buildings, professional fees and repair works to fixtures such as bells and organs. However, this scheme is due to end in March 2011. Unless pressure is brought to bear on the Government to continue the VAT refund, and with VAT set go up to 20% in the New Year, we may see more churches struggle to keep up with repair costs.

The LPWGS was introduced in April 2001, and to the end of June 2010 has paid back over £107 million to listed places of worship across the UK. It has provided great relief to places of worship faced with raising enormous sums for maintenance and repair, and has enabled those who look after these valuable heritage and community buildings to maintain them for future generations.