Labour MP Euan Stainbank has led a group of 22 Scottish Labour MPs in calling on the Scottish Government to provide greater certainty over funding for the renewal and protection of historic churches and other listed places of worship.
The Falkirk MP is the lead signatory of a letter to Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic, Mairi McAllan MSP, raising concerns about the long-term future of funding for some of Scotland’s most important historic religious buildings.
The letter welcomes confirmation that a new pilot scheme will be established, but the Labour MPs argue significant questions remain about the level and sustainability of support available.
They point out that it is now 19 months since the UK Government notified the Scottish Government of changes to the previous scheme and say that up to £1 million was available from the UK Government for an autumn 2026 pilot.
The MPs also contrast the arrangements in Scotland with England, where they say the new Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme is being supported by a year-on-year increase in funding compared with the previous arrangement.
A particular concern raised in the letter is that the Scottish pilot is expected to draw funding from Historic Environment Scotland’s existing grants budget.
The MPs warn this could effectively redistribute existing heritage funding rather than provide additional resources at a time when churches and other historic buildings face significant pressures.
They write:
“There is also no commitment going forward to establish a dedicated scheme. This means that there is still no certainty on funding in Scotland for listed places of worship in our constituencies from next year.”
The MPs are seeking clarification on how much money will be taken from Historic Environment Scotland’s existing grants budget and how VAT will operate within the new arrangements.
They also want the Scottish Government to assess the consequences of providing a less generous fund, pointing to the National Churches Trust’s warning that around a third of churches could be at risk of closure by 2030.
The letter further asks Ministers to clarify whether the Scottish Government believes grant funding for churches should sit outside its responsibilities.
John Grady MP, one of the Labour MPs backing Stainbank’s intervention, said it was important for the Scottish Government to provide clarity.
Writing on X, the Glasgow East MP said:
“Pleased to sign my colleague Euan Stainbank’s letter along with other MPs. It is important that the Scottish Government provide confirmation about available funding of places of worship renewal.”
Alongside Stainbank and Grady, the letter is signed by Graeme Downie, Maureen Burke, Alan Gemmell, Zubir Ahmed, Lillian Jones, Elaine Stewart, Kirsteen Sullivan, Frank McNally, Richard Baker, Irene Campbell, Douglas McAllister, Katrina Murray, Chris Murray, Scott Arthur, Martin Rhodes, Gordon McKee, Patricia Ferguson, Pamela Nash, Kenneth Stevenson and Torcuil Crichton.
The intervention represents a coordinated push from Scotland’s Labour representation at Westminster for a clearer long-term settlement for historic places of worship.
The MPs argue that without greater certainty, churches and other listed religious buildings across their constituencies could face an increasingly difficult future, and they are now seeking assurances from the Scottish Government about how these important parts of Scotland’s heritage will be protected.
