The SPAB’s Maintaining Scotland's Churches project has secured £14,000 per year for three years from Historic Environment Scotland, marking the organisation’s first ever multi-year funded project and a significant step forward in its work supporting Scotland’s historic church buildings.
The funding builds on the success of SPAB’s Church Maintenance Days pilot, delivered in 2024–25, which trained 63 participants and received overwhelmingly positive feedback. With this new support, the project will expand its reach across Scotland, offering practical, accessible training to those responsible for caring for church buildings — particularly within the Church of Scotland, where many buildings are currently at heightened risk. Churches of all denominations are welcome to take part.
The project is launching against a challenging backdrop, with the Listed Places of Worship VAT Grant Scheme due to close and be replaced by a successor programme that Scottish projects will not be eligible to apply for. This change removes a key source of financial support for repairs, placing greater pressure on those responsible for caring for Scotland’s historic church buildings.
The programme focuses on buildings that remain in active or reimagined community use, helping to ensure they continue to serve as valued local resources. Specialist-led maintenance days will give participants the confidence to carry out routine care, commission repairs wisely and make informed, cost-effective decisions that prevent long-term deterioration. Six events a year will be delivered nationally, with additional collaborative sessions planned with partner organisations.
Alongside the training programme, SPAB will refresh and redesign its maintenance guidance, creating clearer, more accessible resources that support churches year-round. By combining good maintenance practice with sensible approaches to carbon reduction, the project will help churches — and the communities around them — care for their buildings sustainably, responsibly and with confidence.