Exclusive:SNP and Labour Governments in row over church upkeep funding
The Church have Scotland has warned that many congregations “will be unable to afford to maintain their churches” without funding.
The SNP and Labour Governments are in a row over funding for the upkeep of churches.
Labour MP for Falkirk Euan Stainbank has written to First Minister John Swinney asking where the extra funding linked to the UK’s Places of Worship Renewal Fund has gone - although the Scottish Government denies it has received any extra cash.
The Labour Government announced in January that its UK-wide Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme - which enabled congregations to reclaim VAT on repairs to buildings of national importance - would stop at the end of this month.
It announced that this would be replaced by the £92 million Places of Worship Fund for England. It said the Scottish Government has in turn received proportionate money through the Barnett Formula - something the Scottish Government denies.
Mr Stainbank, alongside fellow Scottish Labour MPs Katrina Murray, Graeme Downie and Douglas McAllister, have suggested that the Scottish Government is not passing the money onto churches.
This comes after Historic Environment Scotland’s - the public body which the MPs believe would likely provide funding to churches - budget was reduced from £74.3m in 2025/26 to £70.7m in 26/27 in the Scottish Budget.
The Church have Scotland has warned that many congregations “will be unable to afford to maintain their churches” without funding.
Mr Stainbank said: “Places of worship in Falkirk are increasingly important for our communities. The UK Labour Government will provide long-term certainty in England, which provides the Scottish Government a record funding settlement to invest in Scottish places of worship in the process.
“It is therefore deeply concerning that the SNP Government has chosen to cut Historic Environment Scotland’s budget in this year’s funding settlement.
“We have asked the First Minister a simple question: where has the additional funding gone, and how will Scottish places of worship be properly supported by his Government?”
Earlier this week, Culture minister Ian Murray confirmed in a written parliamentary answer that the Scottish Government received money through the Barnett Formula.
He said: “Decisions on the allocation of this funding are then for the Devolved Governments to take.”
It comes after Christian leaders sounded the alarm earlier this week about the future of historic Scottish churches after the closure of the crucial Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.
The Scottish Church Leaders’ Forum said they had not been given guarantees that the money to fund essential repairs to listed church buildings would be passed on.
It warned that the policy change "may threaten the viability of some buildings altogether".
A Church of Scotland spokesman said: “As the largest owner of listed buildings in Scotland, we deeply regret that the shortsighted announcement by the UK Government to close the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme was made with no prior consultation with ourselves, other faith groups or the Scottish Government.
“We understand that the Scottish Government is exploring options to ensure that listed places of worship in Scotland are not disproportionately affected by this withdrawal of UK-wide VAT relief.
“However, the UK Government needs to explain why it has moved away from a longstanding UK-wide scheme.
“Without alternative funding many of our congregations will be unable to afford to maintain their churches or complete essential projects to ensure the communities which they serve are able to access their buildings.
“We have been forced to sell many historic and beloved buildings in recent years because of escalating costs in their upkeep.
“The decision to scrap the scheme could make further disposals happen sooner rather than later.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government was not informed of the decision to end the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme prior to the announcement from UK Government. We recognise the importance of maintaining support for Scotland’s historic places of worship, which continue to play vital cultural, social, and community roles.
“In light of the UK Government’s decision, which has not generated any additional consequential funding, the Scottish Government is actively exploring options to ensure that listed places of worship in Scotland are not disproportionately affected by this withdrawal of UK‑wide VAT relief.”
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