Places of worship
![A young child in a school uniform looking up and smiling inside a synagogue](/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_desktop/public/media/imgs/Schools%20Workshop%20in%20the%20Synagogue%2C%20image%20by%20Chris%20Payne.JPG.webp?itok=SnTZ0dAA)
The Cheetham school workshop in a synagogue. Credit: Chris Payne
Places of worship are among the UK’s oldest and most cherished historic buildings.
Thanks to National Lottery players, since 1995 we have invested more than £970million in places of worship across the UK.
Our funding has helped to conserve and restore buildings so that they can be enjoyed by the wider community. With our support, thousands of people of all faiths have brought the heritage of their place of worship to life.
In Scotland, we continue to work in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland to deliver funding for places of worship.
What sort of project might we fund?
- exploring the building and bringing it to life through new interpretation, alongside necessary repair works
- running heritage learning activities and community events, and creating space for them by carrying out minor alterations to the fabric
- exploring, conserving and interpreting the biodiversity of external spaces including graveyards and cemeteries
- providing better access to heritage by digital means
- community events to involve people in recording the removal, repair and reinstallation of bells, organs, hatchments and benefactor boards, alongside the repairs
- opportunities for people to learn about the art in places of worship, alongside a programme of conservation, such as stained glass, memorials and monuments, wall paintings, statues, historic fixtures or graffiti
- discovery, conservation and learning about the creatures that live in the building, such as bats or birds of prey
- activities to help your group manage heritage more effectively, such as researching existing and new audiences, or trying new approaches to fundraising or income generation
How to get funding
Each of our funding programmes has detailed guidance and further resources to help you apply. Find out whether you are eligible for funding.
You might also want to explore the Listed Places of Worship grants scheme.
![Britain’s last major bell foundry saved Taylor Bell Foundry Loughborough - row of bells created by the foundry](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/Taylor%20Bell%20Foundry%20Loughborough%20-%20row%20of%20bells%20created%20by%20the%20foundry.jpg.webp?itok=AiYY_W2E)
Stories
Britain’s last major bell foundry saved
The restoration of Loughborough Bellfoundry, thanks to £3.45million National Lottery funding, means the bells can continue to ring out for years to come.
![Historic Town Hall given National Lottery funding boost Outside shot of Rochdale Town Hall](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/Rochdale-Town-Hall.jpg.webp?itok=ISV7EJO1)
Stories
Historic Town Hall given National Lottery funding boost
The wonderful Rochdale Town Hall has been given the green light for a much-anticipated revamp, thanks to £8.3million of National Lottery funding.
![Risk Register surveys the highs and lows of historic sites in England Buxton Crescent from above.](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/The%20Crescent%2C%20Buxton%2C%20Derbyshire%20%C2%A9%20Ensana_0.jpg.webp?itok=n4yFp32h)
Buxton Crescent
News
National Lottery funding helps save at-risk historic sites
As Historic England publishes the latest Heritage at Risk Register, we look at some historic sites that have been removed from the register, helped by National Lottery funding.
![Glastonbury Abbey reopens thanks to emergency funding Glastonbury Abbey with a lawn foregrounded](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/Glastonbury-Abbey-lawn.jpg.webp?itok=BgzX2TvZ)
Stories
Glastonbury Abbey reopens thanks to emergency funding
After closing completely due to the coronavirus pandemic, Glastonbury Abbey has been able to reopen safely thanks to National Lottery emergency funding.
Blogs
Making heritage websites accessible to all
When producing our new guide to online accessibility, Alistair McNaught’s research identified how heritage organisations can make their online content open to all. He tells us more.
![Ruthin’s bells will ring out again Large bell on harness](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/Ruthin%20Bells%20-%20National%20Lottery%20Heritage%20Fund%20-%20Bellringing.jpg.webp?itok=W0OG1K6N)
Bell being removed for restoration
Stories
Ruthin’s bells will ring out again
The restoration of the bells at St Peter’s Church in Ruthin, north Wales, has brought an intriguing bellringing tradition back to the Medieval town.
!["Huge" investment for Northern Ireland's heritage Binevenagh mountains](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/Bienevenagh.jpg.webp?itok=vXzanDcc)
The landscape of Binevenagh
News
"Huge" investment for Northern Ireland's heritage
Northern Ireland’s beautiful landscapes are to receive a boost as 11 heritage projects across the country are set to benefit from £5million National Lottery investment.
![Remains of ‘earliest English saint’ confirmed Group stand round skeletal remains](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/St%20Eanswythe%20-%20National%20Lottery%20Heritage%20Fund_0.jpg.webp?itok=k8DUWa13)
News
Remains of ‘earliest English saint’ confirmed
The earliest verified remains of an English saint have been confirmed in Kent thanks to National Lottery funding.
![Pontypridd church celebrates 180th birthday Sunday school walk](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/StMarys-sunday-school-march.jpg.webp?itok=aHcVe5Qp)
News
Pontypridd church celebrates 180th birthday
National Lottery funding is to help a local community come together to celebrate its oldest surviving church.
Programme
Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage – Emergency Resource Support
Part of the rescue package announced by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to safeguard cultural and heritage organisations across England from the economic impact of coronavirus (COVID-19).
![How a medieval church is supporting mental health in Ipswich Rebecca Herod and Kristina Brinkley](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/quay-place-Rebecca-Kristina-blog.jpg.webp?itok=8PwbhU-M)
Blogs
How a medieval church is supporting mental health in Ipswich
Grade II* listed St Mary at the Quay reopened in 2016 as heritage and wellbeing centre Quay Place. We go behind the scenes.
![The first six months: our Strategic Funding Framework Men in a train](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/Bo%27ness%20%26%20KInneil%20Railway%20train.jpeg.webp?itok=_5pR8PlZ)
News
The first six months: our Strategic Funding Framework
2019 has been an exciting year for The National Lottery Heritage Fund. In January we changed our name and branding, and with it the way we work and distribute our grants. We now have open programmes of funding for all kinds of heritage, from £3,000 up to £5million. In June we launched the Heritage