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Church welcomes new Memorial Grant Scheme

18 November 2005

The Church of England and the Churches Main Committee, the body with Christian and Jewish representation that communicates with the Government on proposals for legislation, have warmly welcomed the launch of the Government’s Memorial Grant Scheme on 11 November 2005 (Armistice Day). The Scheme will return, in grant aid, the amount of VAT incurred on the construction, renovation and maintenance of eligible memorials.

Parishes throughout the country will benefit from the launch of the Scheme. The Government has made proposals to the European Commission for a permanent reduced VAT rate to be charged on memorial construction, renovation and maintenance. The scheme will operate until 2008, unless agreement is reached sooner on a permanent reduced rate. 

The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Richard Chartres, Bishop of London and Chairman of the Church Heritage Forum, hailed the launch of the Scheme as a great initiative in support of the care of public memorials, so many of which are in or near places of worship. The Bishop said, "Faith Groups and Charities will welcome this additional help in caring for the public memorials which fill so many of our churches and cathedrals.  Just as we sympathise with individuals who have lost their memories, so a society that loses such memories is the poorer for it.  I only hope that the application process will prove as simple as possible for volunteers to operate".