The best way to avoid having to raise large sums of money for repairs to your building is to ensure that routine maintenance is properly carried out. Many major problems, particularly those caused by water penetration, can be avoided if gutters are kept clear and minor repairs are identified and dealt with promptly.

SPAB is an excellent source of guidance on church maintenance and among other things provide a free monthly maintenance bulletin.  Their Good Maintenance Guide is a valuable reference volume for churchwardens and other volunteers responsible for buildings.

Every place of worship should have a statement of significance and a simple maintenance plan. Find sources of information and guidance on writing a statement of significance here.  You can download English Heritage’s guidance on writing a maintenance plan here. Whilst the guidance is aimed at grant applicants, it contains good practice for all places of worship.

If your church is listed and you have carried out repair or maintenance works, you may be able to reclaim VAT under the Listed places of worship grant scheme.

Our sympathies to those affected by November's floods and continuing severe weather. We are all aware it can take time and determination to recover from such an ordeal. Historic buildings also need time to recover as they need to dry out slowly and have plenty of ventilation in order to avoid damage to their fabric. For more information, please look at English Heritage's guidance on Flooding and Historic Buildings.