Save Churches from Crumbling – Give Them to the Locals
Historic England is close to ending its agreement to repay VAT on church repairs, placing financial pressure on the Church of England. The Church cannot bear this burden alone.
Archbishop of Canterbury Faces a Major Challenge
The new Archbishop should focus on addressing the fate of a third of England’s parish churches—an estimated 3,000 to 5,000—that remain empty, neglected, and rarely used.
Significance of Churches in England
Churches account for nearly half of all Grade I listed buildings, representing England's most significant and beautiful architectural heritage. They serve as civic landmarks, repositories of local memory, and places of quiet reflection.
Current Crisis
These historic churches face a major conservation crisis, largely due to the effects of Britain’s intense centralization.
Proposed Solution: Local Control
There is a clear remedy, successfully employed across Europe: churches should be “denationalised.” Anglican churches—potentially all of them—ought to be transferred from diocesan control to that of parish or town councils, with provisions for shared community use.
“Local churches should be ‘denationalised’. Anglican churches, perhaps all of them, should be transferred by diocesan authorities to parish or town councils, with appropriate arrangements for shared use.”
This transfer would ensure churches are properly protected and maintained within their local communities.
Source
Original article from The Times, Monday, November 3, 2025.
“Historic England is on the brink of withdrawing its deal to repay VAT on church repairs — the Church of England cannot pick up the burden.”
Summary: The crisis facing England’s historic churches demands that control and care be shifted from centralized diocesan authorities to local parish councils to secure their preservation and community role.