Please help to raise £20,000 to care for a vital part of our heritage
We are delighted that thanks to your generosity we have exceeded our orginal target of £10,000. However, with an estimated loss of income of £40,000 this year due to the closure of our chapels we have set a stretch target of £20,000 so that we can secure the future of these magnificent buildings.
Historic Chapels Trust cares for some of England’s most significant non-Church of England places of worship no longer used by their congregations, offering expert advice on their care and conservation, providing funding for maintenance and minor repairs and working with local committees and communities to develop suitable new activities.
Historic Chapels Trust has been able to care for these buildings at a crucial time, just when their regular worshippers were no longer able to look after them. We have continued to do this successfully until now, when we find our future is at risk. COVID-19 presents a significant challenge as we have had to close our chapels and postpone all events resulting in a loss of £40,000 of crucial income.
As people emerge from weeks and months of isolation we believe that the buildings in Historic Chapels Trust’s collection can offer continuity, a safe space for people to re-connect with their local history and heritage and a sense of community. Like many other heritage organisations Historic Chapels Trust will play an important role in the healing of individuals and of the nation as a whole.
Historic Chapels Trust is the place of last resort for significant non-Church of England places of worship and if it cannot continue, there is no other individual or organisation who will care for them and these remarkable buildings will be in danger of being lost or damaged beyond repair. Our chapels have been witness to a number of challenges over the many generations of their existence, and are places of hope in the most difficult times. We are determined that we continue to care for these vital parts of our heritage and hope that you will make a donation to our emergency appeal to raise £20,000 today.