Welcome boost for Dorset's historic churches as they celebrate a record year of grants in 2025!
There was a welcome boost last year to Dorset’s historic churches with the Dorset Historic Churches Trust (DHCT) announcing a record-breaking total of grants awarded. Following its October Trustees’ meeting, the charity confirmed that £89,000 has been distributed across 15 successful applications, bringing the Trust’s 2025 total to an impressive £183,800.
Among the beneficiaries is St Edward’s Church, Corfe Castle, which will receive funding toward Phase 1 of a vital heating system replacement. This improvement will not only enhance comfort for worshippers and community groups, but also help protect the historic structure by reducing the risk of moisture damage and instability caused by fluctuating temperatures.
“An investment in our shared heritage”
For churches like St Edward’s, such grants are far more than financial assistance—they are a lifeline. His Honour David Grant, Chairman of DHCT, expressed delight at the Trust’s ability to support more churches like St Edward’s.
“We are thankful that the resources of the Trust have increased through Ride & Stride, generous legacies and a growing number of Friends. These grants are an investment in our shared heritage and in the communities that gather around these remarkable buildings,” he explained. “We hope this latest round of funding will encourage more churches to come forward and apply, helping to make their restoration projects viable.”
The timing could not be more critical. Across the country, rural churches in particular are facing steeply rising repair and maintenance costs. A recent National Churches Trust survey highlighted a growing backlog of urgent repairs nationwide—from leaking roofs to crumbling stonework—leaving many small congregations feeling uncertain about their future.
For these communities, a DHCT award can transform doubt into confidence.
Supporting churches in challenging times
Many of Dorset’s churches date back centuries. They are places of worship, yes—but also landmarks, community spaces, and repositories of local history. Yet their age and architectural complexity make them costly to maintain.
Funding from DHCT helps congregations tackle essential repair and conservation work, often the first step in securing additional grants or starting community fundraising campaigns. The Trust’s support has historically focused on weatherproofing—protecting roofs, repairing stonework, and ensuring buildings remain structurally sound.
In recent years, DHCT has also increasingly helped churches adapt their buildings for modern community use by funding improvements such as kitchen and lavatory facilities.
Crucially, churches receive limited financial support from central church bodies or government, leaving the bulk of responsibility with local communities and charities like DHCT. The record awards of 2025 reflect the Trust’s commitment to preserving Dorset’s remarkable church heritage for generations to come.
A charity with a 65-Year legacy
DHCT has been working to protect Dorset’s churches since 1960, when it was founded by Sir Owen Morshead and Kenneth Smith. Today, it works closely with the National Churches Trust and has helped to repair and maintain more than 250 churches across the county. Over the past five years alone, DHCT has distributed an average of over £125,000 annually, enabling parishes to undertake everything from urgent roof repairs to sensitive modernisation projects.
The very definition of “historic” has evolved over time. While the Trust originally focused on churches older than 150 years—from the pre-Norman church of St Martin in Wareham to early Victorian chapels—today it recognises the importance of Gothic Revival and Edwardian architecture as part of Dorset’s heritage. Many Victorian churches, ambitious in scale but built for congregations that have since dwindled, now face escalating repair costs.
As Trustee Dr Tim Connor explains, “The concept of ‘historic’ may change through time, but the need to repair our heritage only grows.”
Since its founding, the Trust has contributed more than £2.5 million toward preserving and restoring Dorset’s churches—an extraordinary achievement made possible by community fundraising and the dedication of supporte
Ride + Stride: the heart of DHCT fundraising
One of the Trust’s most cherished traditions is the annual Ride + Stride event—its principal source of income. This sponsored cycle, walk, and exploration of Dorset’s 300+ churches took place on 13 September this year and raised over £100,000.
Hundreds of participants, from keen cyclists to families enjoying a gentle ramble, took to Dorset’s lanes and footpaths, visiting churches that welcomed them with refreshments, encouragement and cakes.
Funds from Ride + Stride are shared between DHCT and participating churches, meaning communities directly benefit from their own hard work and local support.
Those wishing to learn more about the Trust’s work or to support future grant awards can visit: www.dhct.org.uk
