St Helen, Stapleford.

The Nottinghamshire Historic Churches Trust was founded in 1986 and gave its first grants in 1987. It raises money to grant-aid historic churches and chapels in Nottinghamshire. It is non-denominational and can consider making grants to any Christian historic church or chapel in need of support.

It raises money from

• individuals
• institutions
• local authorities
• charitable trusts

It organises an annual sponsored Bike Ride and Walk. The Trust receives half of the sponsorship money, and the other half goes to the churches from which the cyclists come. Each year more churches and chapels become involved thus helping to raise the amount of sponsorship year on year. It also raises money through summer and Christmas parties, and organised events.

Since 1999 the Trust has acted as the channel through which Landfill Tax credits are distributed via WREN (Waste Recylcing Environmental Ltd).

It spends money

• By making grants to historic churches and chapels in Nottinghamshire for the repair and maintenance of the fabric and fittings. Most buildings in receipt of grant-aid pre-date 1914, but the Trustees may also consider places of worship built between 1914 and 1969.
• Size of grants depends on various conditions laid down by the Constitution at the discretion of the Trustees.

Why the Trust needs your help

• The Trust makes a major contribution to the preservation of our heritage by preserving and repairing ecclesiastical buildings of outstanding architectural merit or of historic interest.
• The Trust must keep raising money to continue with its work. The burden of preserving our ecclesiastical heritage increases rather than diminishes with time.