Grants

Friends of Kent Churches Grants

We give grants to churches in use in the county of Kent (pre 1965 boundaries) and to contribute towards keeping in good order their fabric and fixtures of special importance and providing facilities to keep them in use.

If our resources are limited priority will go to buildings of architectural merit and historic importance.

Click to expand the answers to find out if your proposed work is likely to fit in with our criteria and be considered for a grant.

Does our proposed work qualify for an FKC grant?

Eligibility applies to:

- All Christian denominations
- All ages of churches and chapels where services are held and which are open to the public
- Anywhere in Kent and those parts of South East London which were in Kent before 1965. This means that places within the London Boroughs of Bexley and Bromley are included although transferred to London in the 1965 boundary changes.

Eligible work includes:

- All works to maintain the fabric, windows and, in some circumstances, floors and monuments. Where our resources allow, grants are available for fixed facilities such as heating, rewiring, disabled access, security, kitchens and toilets, but only where a small grant will make a significant contribution to keeping a church in use.
- Works to paths, steps, and handrails in the churchyard necessary to facilitate access to the church, including disabled access.

If in doubt, consult the secretary – see Contacts

What is excluded?

The following are excluded:

- Work that has already started. Reordering, redecorating (except where required as a result of grantable work) and major new facilities projects.
- Bells, clocks and organs.
- Churchyards and churchyard walls, except for monuments of special importance and works to paths, steps, and handrails in the churchyard necessary to facilitate access to the church, including disabled access.

If in doubt, consult the secretary – see Contacts

Please click here for information on applying for an FKC grant Applying for a Grant.
To see some examples of grants given by FKC please click on Example Grants.
Here are the grants paid by FKC in recent years Grants Paid.

Every Church of England diocese has an advisory committee (DAC): Canterbury and Rochester in Kent. These DAC’s have websites which are a useful source of information on Kent churches and a comprehensive list of grant giving bodies can be obtained from the DAC secretary:

- https://www.canterburydiocese.org/parishsupport/church-buildings/
- https://www.rochester.anglican.org/churchbuildings

Other websites with comprehensive lists of grant giving body lists include:

- https://www.heritagefundingdirectoryuk.org/
- For a list of other grant giving bodies you may wish to “google” this: Charitable Grants for Churches 2016 – Diocese of Salisbury

Generally pertinent websites include:

- http://www.lpwscheme.org.uk/Listed Places of Worship Scheme (VAT)
- https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/
- https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/caring-for-heritage/places-of-worship
- https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings
- https://www.spab.org.uk/ Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
- https://www.parishresources.org.uk/
- https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/ Heritage Lottery Fund
- https://www.gov.uk/topic/running-charity/money-accounts

For stained glass, pertinent websites include:

- http://glazierscompany.org.uk/

Websites for local church building charities in Kent include:

- https://romneymarshchurches.org.uk/
- http://www.marshalls.org.uk/

Another grant giver is the Cottam Will Trust which gives grants for new works of art in medieval churches and also purchasing and salvaged items. Apply through:

- https://friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/