Dorset Historic Churches Trust

The Trust supports capital projects for Christian places of worship across Dorset, including churches, chapels and meeting houses of all denominations. Funding covers essential structural repairs such as roofs, towers, stonework, windows and historic features. They also consider grants for kitchens, lavatories, heating, lighting and flexible seating where these help make the church more sustainable for its primary worship purpose and enable wider community use. The focus is on sympathetic repair and conservation of historic fabric, alongside targeted improvements that secure the building as a community asset.

Applications are accepted from churches, chapels and meeting houses of all Christian denominations located within the administrative county of Dorset. Eligible applicants are normally faith groups or registered charities responsible for a place of worship. The Trust looks favourably on those with a past record of support through gifts or participation in the Ride+Stride event, but will also consider exceptional cases of merit or need. There is no income threshold specified; the emphasis is on the project’s importance and the applicant’s ability to contribute substantially from their own resources.

The Trust does not fund routine maintenance, cosmetic works, or decorative improvements. They also exclude VAT and any repairs that have already started or been carried out before the grant application is approved. Projects outside the administrative county of Dorset or for non-Christian places of worship are not supported.

Funding is provided as capital grants, with the expectation that the church or chapel makes a substantial contribution or secures match funding from other sources. The Trust welcomes unsolicited approaches and gives preference to applicants who have previously supported the organisation through donations or the annual Ride+Stride event. Grants are awarded on a one-off basis for individual projects, rather than as ongoing multi-year commitments.