Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust

The Trust prioritises capital grants for essential fabric repairs such as roofs, stonework, masonry, windows, and doors, along with limited enhancements like disabled access or toilets that support ongoing use and preservation. It favours rural and village churches with urgent needs and well-planned projects backed by evidence and sustainability plans, often leveraging grants to spur local fundraising. Work funded must be within Wiltshire or Swindon, focusing on historic and community-significant Christian places of worship.

Eligible applicants are Christian places of worship strictly within Wiltshire or Swindon, representing Anglican, Roman Catholic, or Free Church traditions. The Trust has a preference for smaller grassroots congregations over larger urban ones. There are no formal entity or income restrictions, but applicants must be organisations (faith groups) and align with heritage-focused, community-benefiting stewardship. Beneficiaries are the congregations and local communities who use these historic buildings.

The Trust does not fund core costs, revenue, unrestricted funds, or ongoing operational expenses. Projects outside Wiltshire or Swindon are also ineligible, as are any works that fall outside the repair, maintenance, or improvement of Christian places of worship. Charities or congregations seeking help with general running costs rather than specific capital projects will not be supported. Similarly, work on buildings beyond the county boundary lies outside the Trust's remit.

The Trust makes capital grants for specific projects and welcomes unsolicited applications. Its funding is catalytic in character, often using grants to encourage and complement local fundraising efforts. This approach supports congregations in taking local responsibility for the stewardship of their historic buildings, while the Trust acts as the county's specialist funder for such capital works.