Dorset Historic Churches Trust grants
Dorset Historic Churches Trust gives grants towards the sympathetic repair of historic churches and chapels in the administrative county of Dorset that are open for public worship.
Guidance last checked 16 July 2026· from the funder’s own website
Overview
Dorset Historic Churches Trust exists to help conserve places of Christian worship of all denominations in the administrative county of Dorset which are open for public worship. Grant aid is intended to assist in the sympathetic repair of historic churches and chapels, or the historic fittings in them. The standard aimed at is one their architectural value merits, so that the buildings stay in use by the communities they serve. Its grant budget for 2026 has been increased to £175,000, though it does not publish a typical grant size. Applications for the autumn meeting are invited by 21 September; confirm that date before you rely on it. Preference will normally be given to applicants with a past record of support for the trust. That means gifts, or taking part in the annual Ride + Stride fundraising event. Apply before you start. A grant cannot be made for repairs started or carried out before the trustees have approved the application, except where the trust has given prior permission.
What they fund
These categories come from the Charity Commission register. The trust's own purpose is narrower: the repair and conservation of historic churches and chapels.
Who and where
The register places the trust in the South West and in Dorset. Its own guidance covers the administrative county of Dorset.
Who they help
Where they fund
What Dorset Historic Churches Trust says in its own guidance
Quoted directly from the funder’s own website, with a link to the page each quote came from. Always the most current word is theirs — check the source before you apply.
What they say they're looking for
“The intention of Grant aid is to assist in the sympathetic repair of historic churches and chapels, or the historic fittings therein, to a standard that their architectural value merits and to ensure their continued use by the communities they serve.”
Source: dhct.org.uk — Dorset Historic Churches Trust →
“Preference for the allocation of Grants will normally be given to applicants with a past record of support for the Trust though gifts or taking part in the annual Ride + Stride fund-raising event.”
Source: dhct.org.uk — Dorset Historic Churches Trust →
Who they say they'll fund
“Dorset Historic Churches Trust exists to help conserve places of Christian worship of all denominations in the administrative county of Dorset, which are open for public worship.”
Source: dhct.org.uk — Dorset Historic Churches Trust →
What they say they won't fund
“A grant cannot be made for repairs started or carried out before the application has been approved by a meeting of the Trustees, except where prior permission has been explicitly given by the Trust.”
Source: dhct.org.uk — Dorset Historic Churches Trust →
Deadlines they mention
“Applications for the second Trustees meeting of 2026 are invited by 1 June”
Source: dhct.org.uk — Dorset Historic Churches Trust →
“Applications for the autumn meeting are invited by 21 September”
Source: dhct.org.uk — Dorset Historic Churches Trust →
How they say to apply
“All completed forms must be sent to your Deanery Area Representative for comment and support. 2026's grant budget has been increased to £175,000.”
Source: dhct.org.uk — Dorset Historic Churches Trust →
Their charitable objects
As registered with the Charity Commission (their formal purposes):
The preservation, repair, maintenance, improvement, upkeep, beautification and reconstruction of churches in dorset and of monuments, fittings, fixtures, stained glass furniture, ornaments and chattels in such churches and of the churchyard belonging to any such churches.
How to approach them
Start with the official sources — they’re always more current than any directory, including this one.
Common questions
How much does Dorset Historic Churches Trust typically give?
It does not publish a typical grant size or a range. Its 2026 grant budget has been increased to £175,000. In its most recent published accounts it made £113,722 in grants to organisations.
What does Dorset Historic Churches Trust fund?
The sympathetic repair of historic churches and chapels, or the historic fittings in them, to a standard that their architectural value merits and to ensure their continued use by the communities they serve.
Who can apply to Dorset Historic Churches Trust?
Places of Christian worship of all denominations in the administrative county of Dorset which are open for public worship. Preference will normally be given to applicants with a past record of support for the trust, through gifts or by taking part in the annual Ride + Stride fundraising event.
What won't Dorset Historic Churches Trust fund?
A grant cannot be made for repairs started or carried out before the application has been approved by a meeting of the trustees, except where prior permission has been explicitly given by the trust. Apply before you begin the work.
How do I apply to Dorset Historic Churches Trust?
All completed forms must be sent to your Deanery Area Representative for comment and support. Applications are invited ahead of trustee meetings across the year; for the autumn meeting its site gives a deadline of 21 September, which you should confirm before relying on it. Check the funder's own website (www.dhct.org.uk) and its Charity Commission entry (charity number 282790) for current deadlines and guidance, as dates and processes can change.
Is your charity a fit for Dorset Historic Churches Trust?
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Contains public sector information from the Charity Commission for England and Wales licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, and grants data from 360Giving used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Figures are derived (filtered and summarised by TrusteeMeetings), not republished unchanged. About the data · Terms of use. This page is a starting point for your own research, not a promise of funding, and is not endorsed by or affiliated with Dorset Historic Churches Trust.