A CALL for urgent action to protect historic churches and places of worship has been made by one of West Somerset’s MPs, Sir Ashley Fox.

It came after the Government confirmed this year’s £23 million allocation for its Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme had been fully exhausted and was now closed to new applications.

Sir Ashley said the grant scheme for more than two decades had enabled listed churches, chapels, and other faith buildings to reclaim VAT on essential repair works.

Without it, congregations faced the full 20 per cent VAT cost added to often complex and specialist conservation projects.

The Government said all awards in the 2025-26 budget had now been allocated and there would not be any further funding rounds, with no details yet published for any replacement scheme.

Sir Ashley previously warned churches across the Bridgwater constituency the proposed replacement fund would fall significantly short of what was required.

He said while Ministers indicated a £92 million fund over four years, repair needs for parish churches alone were estimated at £150 million, with a projected VAT burden of £120 million.

Nationally, 3,500 places of worship closed in the past decade and another 2,000 were expected to shut within five years.

Sir Ashley said: “Churches and places of worship are part of our national story and at the heart of many local communities.

“Removing the ability to reclaim VAT on essential repairs places a serious financial strain on congregations who are already working tirelessly to keep these buildings open.

“I have launched a petition calling on the Government to reinstate full VAT relief on repairs, establish a sustainable long-term funding mechanism, and engage properly with faith groups and heritage bodies.

“With no funding left and no clear replacement in place, many churches will be facing real uncertainty about how they will afford urgent repairs.”