Committee publication · Correspondence · 2 September 2025

Letter from Emily Gee, Director for Cathedral and Church Buildings, Church of England, regarding Protecting built heritage oral evidence follow-up, 30 July 2025

From: Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Summary

Emily Gee, Director for Cathedral and Church Buildings at the Church of England, writes to follow up on oral evidence given to the CMS Committee's inquiry into protecting built heritage. The letter amplifies key points about the 16,000 Church of England churches and 42 cathedrals, estimates £1bn in needed major repairs, and urges Government to make the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme permanent and fund a new £50m annual capital scheme for listed faith buildings.

Key findings

Church of England estimates £1 billion value of major repairs needed across its 16,000 church buildings; current funding crisis requires sustainable funding model for listed places of worship.
Requests permanent Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS) without a cap—described as a 24-year lifeline now creating uncertainty for church communities.
Proposes new recurring capital funding scheme worth £50 million annually, mainly taxpayer-funded with partner contributions, administered ecumenically and in partnership.
Church of England holds 45% of the nation's Grade I-listed buildings and provides significant social action (food provision, debt counselling, community cafés) dependent on building condition.
Calls for Government commitment to cross-party plan of action with principal denominations, civil society, and funders; proposes matched funding schemes to incentivise private and public donations for church heritage.

Tone

Procedural

Topics

heritage-conservationpublic-financefaith-organisationsbuilt-heritagecommunity-services

Key actors

Emily Gee, Church of England, Church Commissioners, Dame Caroline Dinenage DBE MP, Marsha De Cordova MP, Rev'd Paula Griffiths, Becky Payne, Historic Religious Buildings Alliance

Notable line

“T he funding crisis facing those who care for church buildings requires a concerted, shared, sustainable funding model for listed places of worship.”

Key Quotes

“… we estimate the value of major repairs needed in Church of England church buildings to be £1bn. T he funding crisis facing those who care for church buildings requires a concerted, shared, sustainable funding model for listed places of worship.”
— Emily Gee · addressing the scale of repairs needed and funding gap

“A permanent Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS) , which has been a lifeline for places of worship for 24 years. Current uncertainty is putting church communities under huge pressure.”
— Emily Gee · urging Government to make the LPWGS permanent

“A new recurring capital funding scheme for listed faith buildings, worth £50 million per year and mainly covered by the taxpayer, with contributions from other partners .”
— Emily Gee · proposing alternative funding mechanism

“S titch-in-time repairs funding for church buildings – and all heritage buildings – are vital, and they unlock other positive outcomes.”
— Emily Gee · explaining the importance of preventative maintenance funding

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗