Save Churches from Crumbling – Give Them to the Locals
Historic England is close to ending its agreement to repay VAT on church repairs, leaving the Church of England unable to manage the financial burden.
The new Archbishop of Canterbury faces a significant challenge: deciding the future of about one-third of England’s parish churches—between 3,000 and 5,000—that remain mostly unused and neglected.
Churches as England’s Civic Heritage
Churches make up nearly half of all Grade I listed buildings in England and represent the nation’s most valuable and historic architectural legacy. They serve as local memory, cultural heritage, and places of rest.
"They are also its greatest conservation crisis. Churches are victims of Britain’s manic centralisation."
A Practical Solution Applied in Europe
The article proposes a clear fix: local churches should be "denationalised." This means transferring Anglican churches, possibly all, from dioceses to parish or town councils for better local management and shared use.
"Local churches should be ‘denationalised’. Anglican churches… should be transferred by diocesan authorities to parish or town councils, with appropriate arrangements for shared use."
Proper transfer to local care with protections could ensure the preservation and active use of these historic buildings.
Source
See The Times article here (£): Save churches from crumbling, give them to the locals
Author’s Summary
Transferring historic but underused churches to local communities offers a vital solution to preserve England’s cultural heritage amid financial and centralisation challenges.