There is at least one place of worship in almost every village, ward or neighbourhood throughout the country; and each year 85% of the population visits a place of worship. They are often the most distinctive building in an area, the focus for many civil and social activities as well as worship, and they provide a powerful visual connection with our past.
There are over 1,100 historic places of worship on national Buildings at Risk Registers across the UK. They need money for vital repairs. A survey of all listed places of worship in England estimated the total value of repairs to be in the region of £925m over five years. Congregations and the local communities can currently raise around half of this total, so additional investment is needed to secure the significant public benefits of historic places of worship for future generations.