What We Do

Historic Chapels Trust is the only national charity in England to save and protect significant non-Church of England places of worship no longer used by their congregations. With concerns about environmental sustainability becoming ever more pressing finding new uses for these buildings has never been so important.

Historic Chapels Trust is the custodian of a remarkable collection of some of the most important Grade I and Grade II* listed places of worship in England that tell the story of the Nonconformist and Catholic traditions of this country from the 17th to 20th centuries. They illustrate a variety of architectural designs and scale and represent a range of non-Anglican denominations including Baptist, Methodist, Quaker, Presbyterian, Unitarian and Roman Catholic.

We protect these chapels by offering expert advice on their care and conservation and providing funding for maintenance works. We work closely with local committees and communities, supporting them in caring for their chapels, creating a plan for each site, encouraging them to develop new activities to improve income and engagement and making each chapel sustainable in the long-term.

Our work is supported by over 200 volunteers who ensure that our buildings are open and looked after. They act as keyholders and guides, and are essential in supporting local fundraising through special events.