Culture | Posted on July 20th, 2026 | return to news

Dorset churches to receive vital funding

A total of 10 churches in the county, including Holtwood Methodist Church, are to receive a share of £53,500 from Dorset Historic Churches Trust.

Holtwood Methodist Church is amongst 10 churches in Dorset which is to receive a grant from Dorset Historic Churches Trust for essential repairs and improvements. At a recent trustee meeting a total of £53,500 was awarded, primarily to go towards roof and ceiling repairs, damp-proofing, bell frame repairs and lead work repairs to windows.

The other churches to receive funding are: St Peter & St Paul, Blandford; St Martin, Cheselbourne; St Mary and St Bartholomew, Cranborne; St John, Fishpond; St Thomas a Becket, Lydlinch; St Andrew, Okeford Fitzpaine; Holy Trinity, Swyre; St Andrew and St Peter, Toller Porcorum; and St Nicholas, Winterborne Clenston.

Nina Shaw-Porter, churchwarden of St Martin in Cheselbourne, said: “Dorset Historic Churches Trust has been incredibly generous over the many years I have been churchwarden and has recently pledged £10,000 to help with repairs to the collapsed ceiling in our beautiful 12^th century church in Cheselbourne. This grant will make a massive difference to how quickly we can do the work and get the church back to full capacity again.

“We look forward to supporting Ride+Stride again this year as, not only is it a fun day, it raises vital funds to help keep churches like St Martin’s in good repair.”

The upkeep of historic churches falls almost entirely on local congregations and volunteers, rather than the government or national church authorities.

Historic England’s September 2025 research revealed a public misunderstanding regarding who pays for church repairs. Polling showed that only 11 per cent of the public know that local communities and volunteers bear the primary financial responsibility, while nearly 80 per cent incorrectly assume the costs fall on national church bodies or government.

David Grant, chairman of Dorset Historic Churches Trust, said: “Thanks to the incredible support we have received through Ride+Stride, our Friends organisation, legacies and donations, we’ve been able to fund a wide range of projects across the county this year, supporting churches and the communities that care for them. These grants enable communities to take action now to protect these precious buildings at a particularly crucial time.

“Repairs are now 20 per cent more expensive, as the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme – a VAT reclaim scheme – was closed by the UK government earlier this year. Our historic churches are a vital part of Dorset’s heritage and it is important that they are conserved for future generations.”

If you would like to help raise vital funds to protect Dorset’s incredible heritage for future generations, join Ride+Stride on Saturday 12 September.

To register or find out more visit www.dhct.org.uk/m/ride_and_stride.php