The Berkshire Historic Churches Trust was set up in 1984. Its objective is to raise funds to help with the cost of repairs to the fabric of Christian churches in Berkshire of any denomination belonging to or associated with Churches Together in England.
The Trust’s aim is to encourage churches to make use of their buildings for the benefit of the community at large if this can be achieved without compromising the architectural quality of the church. As its funds are small it can only grant aid works other than to the fabric of the worship area if they are of some architectural or historical importance.
The Trust is supported entirely by voluntary subscriptions, donations and legacies. The more money it receives, the more help it can give. Between 1988 and 2022 the Trust has given away over £700,000 in grants varying in size between £200 and £10,000. In the financial year 2021-22, it supported three projects: the restoration of the Victorian tiled floor at All Saints, Boyne Hill; the replacement of three old boilers at St Joseph’s RC Church in Maidenhead; and major repairs and restoration being undertaken at St Mary’s Church, East Ilsley.
The latest Annual Report is available to read here. A copy of our latest newsletter, September 2024, is available here.
Ride+Stride, the annual fund-raiser for the Berkshire Historic Churches Trust, took place this year on Saturday 14th September. We are so grateful to all riders and striders who this year enjoyed a perfect autumn day for their endeavours. Half the money they raised will be paid direct to their nominated church – the other half will help to support other churches in need of help throughout Berkshire.
A message from our Patron, The Rt Hon the Lord Benyon KCVO
Churches are so much more than places of worship. They provide a refuge from our busy lives and connect us with the history of our communities and those who have gone before us. Whilst bats in the belfry can be a mixed blessing, they remind us that our churches and churchyards also provide the interface between our spiritual needs and nature. In a secular world churches provide somewhere for every need. The Berkshire Historic Churches Trust is vital in keeping these places alive, weatherproof and accessible to all.
Having lived all my life in Berkshire and having been connected to so many communities, I see the huge burden on those communities with the repair and restoration of these remarkable parts of our heritage. We are privileged in this part of England to have spectacular landscapes in which buildings like churches are as intrinsic to that landscape as any tree, hedge or field. We cannot let them fall into disrepair and be unsafe to enter. To preserve and protect that heritage we rely on experts and those with the ability to access the eye-watering sums needed to preserve and protect these buildings for this and future generations. There has never been a more important time for the Berkshire Historic Churches Trust to exist and they need our support.
Richard Benyon
