On 22nd January 2026, the UK Government confirmed the end of Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS).
The most important message for now is that churches will not be able to claim VAT back from the LPWGS after 31 March this year. Methodist churches with any eligible invoices for works at their listed church buildings are urged to submit their claims as soon as possible. The budget for claims for this year was £23 million, with less than 5 million remaining at the time of writing. Please use this online tracker to check how much money is still in the pot: → Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme funding tracker.
For the future, churches in Scotland and Wales are encouraged to consider other national funds such as the Heritage Fund’s Places of Worship Fund.