Dorset Historic Churches Trust

Dorset Historic Churches Trust (DHCT), established in 1971, is a dedicated charity committed to preserving, repairing, and conserving Christian churches and chapels of all denominations open for public worship within Dorset, England. Its core mission ensures these historic buildings remain active centres for faith, community life, and heritage, embodying values of stewardship, ecumenism, continuity, and local identity. With a pragmatic, heritage-led approach, DHCT provides targeted financial support for essential structural works like roofs, towers, stonework, windows, and significant historic features, prioritising projects backed by professional evidence of urgency and architectural value to prevent dereliction and sustain community use.

It funds capital grants exclusively for vital conservation and repairs on church buildings managed by parishes or not-for-profit bodies, supporting both landmark churches and small rural chapels across Dorset, as seen in recent awards to sites in Weymouth, Sherborne, and Beaminster for re-roofing and masonry stabilisation.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities responsible for Christian places of worship strictly within Dorset's administrative boundaries; no income thresholds apply, with a focus on those unable to fund major repairs independently. Applications are unsolicited and rolling, submitted via DHCT form with financial accounts, project details, and professional reports to Deanery Representatives, reviewed at quarterly trustee meetings (March, July, November), with decisions in up to four months. Typical grants range from £1,000 to £15,000 (averaging £5,500), totalling over £125,000 annually.

DHCT excludes routine maintenance, cosmetic, decorative, or non-essential works, revenue funding, and projects outside Dorset or non-Christian sites. Its distinctives include ecumenical breadth, hyper-local focus, and high-impact interventions that leverage events like Ride+Stride for broader awareness, setting it apart as Dorset's premier guardian of ecclesiastical heritage.