Grants and Loans Application Guidance

Historic churches and chapels of any denomination in Cambridgeshire are eligible, provided they are likely to remain in use for public worship and be properly maintained for the foreseeable future.

NB: Work should not have been started before the Executive Committee has considered the application. However, this does not apply to additional work which could not have been foreseen and has been discovered during the contract.

Also, work must be supervised by the project architect or other suitably qualified person.

Exclusions: We do not offer grants for churchyards, tree work, re-decoration, acquisition of works of art, liturgical re-ordering, irreversible electrification of mechanical clocks nor the routine servicing of bells or clocks or organs other than essential major works.

The Trust aims to help those who are most in need of outside support. We have regard to the following factors:

• The importance of the work in preserving the building as a place of regular worship.
• The importance of the building from an architectural, historical or artistic point of view.
• The scale of the project.
• The funds available to the applicant, including grants offered by others, and the extent of self-help through fundraising activities.

From 1, (the highest) to 8, (the lowest).

1. Stolen lead replacement, leaking roofs, unsafe windows, decaying or unsafe masonry and faulty electrical wiring.
2. Rising dampness in floors and walls, including rainwater drainage upgrade.
3. Provision of Toilets and Kitchens
4. Upgrade of Heating and Lighting
5. Monument restoration
6. Rehanging of bells, repair of clocks and major periodic reconstruction or repair of organs.
7. Re–ordering.
8. Surveys.

Grants are normally available to a maximum of £3,000 for projects.  (Up to 50% for approved alarm systems, but to a maximum of £1,000.)

Interest-free loans may be offered for any project to a maximum of £20,000, dependent on the ability of the applicant to repay them. Loans are normally repayable by equal annual instalments over a period of 4 years, but can be repaid earlier.

• Offers of financial assistance are entirely at the discretion of the Trust’s Executive Committee, which meets every three months (normally in February, May, August, and November).
• Please apply using the online application form or the downloadable form with the required supporting documentation.
• Offers will be made and should be signed electronically to acknowledge our terms, unless other arrangements are made. (e.g. print, sign and post back to the Grants Secretary)
• Churches are also expected to become members of CHCT (if not already) for a minimum 4 years, currently at a cost of £50pa, payable in January each year.
• Loan finance will normally be made available as soon the Loan Contract has been returned but normally as your project starts.
• Grants will not be paid until the end of the project (but for projects over £50,000, at 75% completion.) Please supply the Grants Secretary with a certificate of Practical Completion from your architect or professional adviser, together with a copy of the contractor’s final invoice (not including the retention).
• Churches are expected to publish our assistance and an appropriate form of words will be provided.
• Churches are expected to supply digital photos (to a reasonable resolution) during the Works if possible and on completion.

Please enclose with your application

• Your latest Quinquennial survey, or similar survey, supporting the above proposals.
• The project specification, schedule of work and any relevant drawings.
• Digital photos, (jpeg not pdf), to a reasonable resolution to illustrate the areas where work is proposed.
• A photo of a paying-in book, cheque book or bank statement to verify your bank account details for all of our grant and loan repayments.