Successful application for £240K gives the go ahead to explore the future of City of London’s historic churches.
The Square Mile Churches Project, based in the City of London, has received vital funding from The National Heritage Lottery Fund, which will now be used in a variety of different initiatives. This will include energy audits of the area’s historic places of worship and their associated buildings, the establishment of new volunteer training schemes and looking at fresh ways to engage with local and wider communities.
The £240,000 grant signifies the importance of the City churches, in terms of cultural heritage. Largely commissioned after the Great Fire of London in 1666 and designed by Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723), the 38 churches are of international significance and bear comparison with UNESCO World Heritage Sites. As a collection of buildings, these churches have not only been deeply significant in terms of their religious importance, but also as focal points for people living and working in the City across the centuries.
Now, thanks to the generous support of the Heritage Fund the Square Mile Churches Project can further develop its work to secure their future via a number of initiatives, chiefly by assessing and understanding their conservation and community needs, as well as identifying their potential for future opportunities. Part of the funding will be used to recognise the 38 churches individual historical importance, before planning how each one can enjoy an energy efficient and sustainable future.
“Each guild and parish church have distinct characteristics that we aim to celebrate and acknowledge through a series of new initiatives,” says Revd Laura Jorgensen, Area Dean for the City Deanery.
The heart of this comprehensive project is the Framework Conservation Plan (FCP) which will specifically address the unique needs of each City church, ensuring they continue to thrive as integral parts of their communities. Supporting this, capital options appraisals and business plan reviews will help identify potential uses of church spaces, while preserving their historic character and fabric. The aim is to encourage churches to adapt these spaces to meet current and future needs, without compromising their heritage or core function as places of worship.
The funding will enable all of the Square Mile churches to be given an enhanced energy audit, which is part of the Church of England’s objective to build towards a status of its entire estate achieving net zero carbon by 2030.
“Environmental sustainability is a key component of the project, so this series of energy audits in each of the Square Mile Churches, supported by a group of trained volunteers, will enable us to create a series of recommendations with regard to our future capital options and in turn, put into action any necessary short-term measures immediately,” explains Annie Hampson OBE, Chair, The Square Mile Churches Project.
The exciting ‘Mapping Energy Project’ (MEP) – which has also attracted funding from the Royal Academy of Engineering – will look at how heat can be shared and sourced amongst districts. Involving 10 schools from the surrounding area, the MEP aims to give 6th form students and early-career engineers an opportunity to discover sources of heat from below ground – such as the London Tube network – and consider how they could be used to provide the energy needed to heat or indeed cool churches throughout the year.
A 3D map of their findings will go on display in June 2025 at St Andrew Holborn to physically demonstrate how structures above ground and those below relate to each other. The 3D model will publicly showcase the findings of the energy mapping project, and physically identify heat transference locations and where there is potential to draw excess heat from sources such as the London Underground to heat our local schools and churches.
Another volunteer-run research project – ‘The Evolution of the City’ – will research the change in status of the City’s churches from the end of World War II up to the present day. It will pay particular attention to the Marshall Plan (1948) period, when London began the process of post-war rebuilding and the years of intense development in the City during the 1990s, considering the roles the City churches played in these periods of great change.
Although the City is no longer as densely populated by residents as it was in the 17th century, the area remains ‘home’ to a diverse community, of workers, students and visitors, ranging from those working in finance, law and insurance and those who provide the vital support they need such as retail, hospitality and cleaning services. With this in mind, a Community Development Plan (CDP) will be instigated, to assess local needs and recognise potential engagement opportunities as part of a desire to ensure that the City’s historic churches remain responsive and relevant to the people they serve. The CDP, with the churches, will work in partnership with local organisations and initiatives, to reach and consult with those who work, visit, or live in the Square Mile.
“Through these new studies we aim to deepen our understanding of the interface between the City, its churches, and their role in future planning considerations,” explains Helen Vigors, Heritage Project Manager with the Diocese of London.
“We believe that the support the Lottery funding gives us will play a vital role in contributing to fresh understanding of our churches and their communities, which in turn will make a major difference to their collective strength and resilience throughout future generations.” The Ven. Katherine Hedderly, Archdeacon of Charing Cross.
The funding will also help to stage a series of Heritage Careers Days (dates TBA). Aimed at Key Stage 4 pupils, these events will invite youngsters to experience and consider careers in the heritage sector. Led by experts in a variety of fields of conservation and sustainability, the days will have interactive, hands-on aspects designed to give participating students a chance to gain their own insights and experiences, while being given advice and information about possible careers, training and funding.
Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London says:
“I am delighted that The Square Mile Churches project has received funding from The National Heritage Lottery Fund Following on from the success of Wren300, this project will not only support the City churches on their journey to NZC, aligning with the aspirations of the London Diocese, but will be a multi-faceted project that engages with the wide and diverse communities of the Square Mile. By making the churches more resilient, sustainable and adaptive to future needs, it will ensure their place as centres of well-being, community, culture, learning and historical significance that will contribute to the ecosystem of our shared life together here in the City for many years to come.”
For more information about the Square Mile Churches visit
Website – www.squaremilechurches.co.uk