How can you support our work?
HCT's running costs are currently supported by a 70 per cent grant from English Heritage. The balance has to be found from the Heritage Lottery Fund, grant-giving charities, local organisations, donations and Subscribing Friends. The Historic Chapels Trust is not a grant giving body.
Please complete a membership application form to become a Friend.
Our Chapels
Grittleton Strict Baptist Chapel, High Street, Grittleton
Grittleton Strict Baptist Chapel opened in 1721 having been...
Home
The Historic Chapels Trust (HCT) was established in 1993 to take into ownership redundant chapels and other places of worship in England which are of outstanding architectural importance and historic interest. The object is to secure their preservation, repair and maintenance for public benefit, including contents, burial grounds and ancillary buildings. Buildings of all denominations and faiths can be taken into care with the exception of Anglican churches which are eligible for vesting in the Churches Conservation Trust of the Church of England. HCT's remit embraces
- Nonconformist chapels
- Roman Catholic churches
- synagogues
- buildings of other faiths
HCT buildings are outstanding, graded I or II* on the statutory lists. HCT is also helping to foster greater understanding of its buildings through research, the production of publications and publicity about its activities.
How do we work?
Once HCT has acquired a building an architect is appointed to survey its condition and supervise any necessary repairs and upgrades. Chapels are open to visitors and available for a range of suitable events. HCT encourages the continuance of services of worship on an occasional basis. Alternative uses may also be agreed where appropriate as long as these do not involve unsympathetic alterations. HCT establishes local events management committees for each chapel and actively seeks non-denominational community uses for its buildings, provided the purposes are compatible with the chapel's former religious character.
The Historic Chapels Trust has obtained roughly 1/3 of its funding from English Heritage (including 70% annual support towards office overheads and chapel maintenance); 1/3 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and 1/3 from grant-giving trusts, Subscribing Friends, donations, the Landfill Tax Scheme and other sources. Over £8million has been raised by HCT.
New Director
The Historic Chapels Trust is delighted to announce that Roland Jeffery has agreed to be its Director from 25th May 2012. Roland Jeffery takes over from Dr Jennifer Freeman who was the Director from the Trust's inception in 1993, and who retired at the end of March 2012. In her time the Trust took ownership of twenty of the Country's most important former non-Anglican places of worship, and raised £8½ million to help restore and regenerate them.