Listed places of worship are a vital part of the UK’s historic environment and community infrastructure. They include some of the country’s most architecturally and historically significant buildings, while also providing spaces for worship, volunteering, social action and local support.

The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme was introduced in 2001 to support the repair and maintenance of listed places of worship by refunding VAT on eligible works. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport commissioned Harlow Consulting to undertake the first formal evaluation of the Scheme. The evaluation was published by GOV.UK in January 2026. 

The evaluation assessed the Scheme’s reach, effectiveness, additionality, proportionality, appropriateness, administrative processes and value for money. It considered how far the Scheme was supporting timely repair and maintenance, whether it was reaching eligible places of worship across the UK, and how well the current delivery model was working for applicants. 

Our approach combined policy review, development of a Theory of Change, analysis of Scheme data, stakeholder interviews, a survey of Scheme users and non-users, process mapping, value-for-money assessment and detailed case studies with individual places of worship. This mixed-methods design enabled the evaluation to bring together quantitative evidence on funding, reach and outcomes with lived experience from those responsible for maintaining listed places of worship. 

The final report provided DCMS with an independent evidence base to inform future decisions about the Scheme. It highlighted the benefits of an accessible, broad-based grant mechanism, while also identifying opportunities to improve awareness, data collection and understanding of reach across different nations, faith groups and types of place of worship.