Places of worship

Exterior of St Matthew's church / © Autism Together

The Heritage Network is helping communities to take ownership of places of worship and run them as community spaces.

Across the UK, many communities are facing uncertain futures for their current and former faith buildings - whether these spaces are still used for worship, host community activities, or are being considered for entirely new purposes.We have gathered a wide range of resources to help you navigate this journey. While many of these focus on churches being sold, we're adding new materials all the time. If you can't find what you need, please reach out to the staff member in your nation, or check back regularly for updates.

Key contact

Sarah Pearce

Development & Outreach Manager

Email:

sarah@heritagenetwork.org.uk

Resources

Our work with communities saving church buildings began in Scotland and that is reflected in the resources below. We will be adding more resources and case studies from the other nations as we find them.

Exterior of St Magnus with people sat and stood around in the graveyard.

A Future for Your Church, free online event series

Heritage Network and Historic Churches Scotland have joined forces to host an ongoing event series for any group contemplating the future of their church building. Next event: TBC

Book your ticket

A path leads through a graveyard towards Tibbermore Parish Church. A string of people walk down the path towards the building which has scaffolding up the side.

Digital resource: Your Church, Your Community

This document has been developed to meet a growing need from communities for specific guidance around taking ownership of churches and accompanying land. Including 12 key steps to progress through towards a sustainable future for your building and links to further support.

Download

Scotland Churches Sector Map

Looking for funding, resources or advice – but not sure where to start? Take a look at our new Scotland Churches Sector Map to see what support is available to you and your group.

View the map

Sunlight through stained glass windows creates a rainbow inside Dornach Cathedral

Church of Scotland: Guidance on Disposal of Redundant Churches

The Church of Scotland updated its published guidance on the disposal process for redundant churches in January 2025. A must read for any group who are exploring the sale or purchase of a church building currently in Church of Scotland ownership.

Download the resources

Interior of Lochgelly Church during renovation.

Case Studies

This YouTube playlist features recordings from our church event series, a mix of community case studies and expert presentations:

View now

Eco Church: A framework for action

Eco Church is a project of A Rocha UK to help churches go green. While the full programme and award scheme is aimed at churches with active congregations, everyone can access the many free resources available on their website. Including: Low carbon heating, Heat pumps, Biomass boilers, Electrical heating.

View all energy resources

Climate Change Adaptation Case Study: A 'Whole Building' Approach at a Medieval Chapel: Becket’s Chapel, Norfolk

This case study shows how a Grade I listed chapel in very poor condition was made more energy efficient during works to save it. Key sections: What happened during the planning process? About the adaptation, The installation process, Results and lessons learned.

Read the case study

A poster promoting the church recording project. It contains graphics of recording tools and elements of church interiors and exteriors.

Church Recording Project from Scotland's Churches Trust

Find out how Scotland’s Churches Trust created a method for recording some fragile and important cultural heritage, the movable contents of churches. The trust worked with many local volunteers across Scotland to document local churches, collate data and organise it for uploading to local or national archives.

Visit the website

Church Recording Project handbook

Empowering communities to record the moveable contents of their church – the hundreds of fragile artefacts gathered within each building by their local communities, often over many generations. Interested in recording the contents of your church?

View the handbook

How to recycle a church

An inspiring article from Steven Robb, Historic Environment Scotland to highlight amazing new uses of Churches across the country. “There is a long and positive history of church buildings being repurposed for a variety of uses, from cub scout and guides meetings to book fairs and art clubs”.

Read the article

A community shop within a historic church. Shelves and tables are filled with food and drink produce.

Community Businesses in Places of Worship

Explore case studies and resources from the Plunkett Foundation about how places of worship can make great venues for community businesses.

Find out more

Support for community businesses in places of worship

Seeking ways to increase footfall and create an income stream which contributes to the upkeep of your much loved building? Becoming a venue for a community business may be the answer. The Plunkett Foundation has an entire website dedicated to helping you decide whether this may be right for you.

Visit the dedicated website to access support

Conference drinks reception 2023 / © Damien Wootten

Free risk management resources from Ecclesiastical (specialist church insurers)

Ecclesiastical insurers have many free articles and templates on their website offering risk management guidance, in particular there is a Church Guidance Note series. The guidance is aimed at buildings located in England, but much of the general advice will be applicable to other parts of the UK.

Search the document library

Exterior of St Monans Kirk. The church sits in front of a field and text to a beach.

Three Churches Project Viability Appraisal from Fife Historic Buildings Trust

This report summarises early- stage viability study work carried out with three A- listed Fife churches and their communities over the summer of 2023, with the aim of exploring potential future uses for the buildings. Featuring: Culross Abbey Parish Church, Burntisland Parish Church, and St Monans Auld Kirk.

Download the pdf

Bridging the gap

Exploring the barriers and solutions to sustainable community ownership of historic rural places of worship. Working with a small number of community groups from rural historic churches in England and Scotland, and other sectoral stakeholders, a combination of desktop research, surveys and online/in-person workshops were undertaken.

Read the executive summary

Case Study: Conversion of Sanday Kirk

Congratulations to the Friends of Sanday Kirk, Orkney who were shortlisted for a SURF Award in the ‘Community Led Regeneration’ category. “The need to preserve the Sanday Kirk was paramount ..... The building not only holds historical and cultural significance, but it also serves as a key venue for essential life events.”

Find out more on page 13

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