The Trust helps to fund the repair of churches and chapels in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and part of Barnet. We give grants for conservation, repair, and development, and we offer tours, talks and events to Friends of the Trust.  

We rely on a fantastic team of volunteers. If you would like to get involved, we can offer great support and a warm welcome -  the level of commitment is up to you.

We are looking for volunteers interested in the following:

• Publicity – raising the Trust's profile - especially social media

• Fundraising – including help with our major fundraiser, the Bike ‘n Hike

• Grants – liaising with and supporting church applicants

• Encouraging and widening our group of Friends.

Please email [email protected] to find out more, and let us know what area you're interested in: even an hour a week helps!

The Trust has so far awarded £4.2 million in grants towards the upkeep of church buildings. However, on average this represents just 10% of the total cost of the essential works necessary to preserve and improve accessibility and resilience of this invaluable heritage.

The closure of the government's VAT reclaim scheme for work on Grade I listed churches makes this challenge even greater. Inflation adds to the cost of repairs, and climate change is increasing the pressure due to the increasing severity of storms overwhelming rainwater dispersal.

You can help us to protect this valuable heritage. Please consider making a donation or leaving a legacy to the Trust - our grants are greatly valued by those on the front line of church upkeep, often in small rural parishes.

Do please visit our Campaign page or have a look at our Legacy leaflet to explore the ways in which you can help - or contact us to offer some time or expertise. Thank you.

Coach Tour from Hitchin with guide

Saturday 26^th September 2026

£25 for Friends of the Trust and £35 for guests and others

The tour starts and finishes with two of ‘England’s Thousand Best Churches’

Simon Jenkins picked All Saints, St Paul’s Walden with its remarkable chancel and ‘wedding cake’ Baroque screen. The Queen Mother was baptised here.

And St Mary, Hitchin - ‘ablaze with light’ and an amazing font and wood carving.

We will also visit the lovely, medieval St Ippolyts sitting high above a valley.

And St Mary, Great Wymondley with its Norman nave, chancel with curved apse and the beautiful arch shown above. While castle earthworks lie close by.

To book, please visit our Events Page

Preparations for the 2026 Bike 'n Hike on 12 September are well under way. For all the resources you'll need to participate in the event, see the Bike 'n Hike section.

Read our current Annual Report here.