England’s places of worship in nationwide survey

Around one in 10 places of worship in England is in need of urgent repairs according to a new survey by English Heritage. A sample of England’s 14,500 listed places of worship found that almost 10 per cent were in need of extensive restoration. Secondary surveys carried out in London and Birmingham revealed that places of worship in inner city areas might be more at risk than others. According to the findings of the Caring for Places of Worship 2010 report, £925m of repairs will now need to be carried out in the next five years to secure the future of many of our most treasured churches, synagogues and mosques.

“Most people wrongly assume that they [places of worship] are maintained by the state or some other unidentified organisation,” said Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage. “In fact their care, repair and development are all the responsibility of local congregations. Some public funds have been offered to a small minority of the most vulnerable buildings but the vast majority of the costs are borne by those who have inherited them.”

English Heritage aims to support local congregations of all faiths as they work to preserve their places of worship. They provide some financial aid as well as guidance through the legal and technical aspects of working with listed buildings. To recognise congregations for their achievements, English Heritage has also established the Caring for Places of Worship Awards.

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