Rural churches : Understanding your resources

As a church in a small village or rural community, you may feel that your resources and the people who can help you to fundraise are limited to just the local area – the local school, the post office, or the local pub. Here are just a few ideas to uncover new connections and unlock resources to help you fundraise.

Every year, across the country, local art trails entertain thousands of visitors. Many churches join forces with the organisers (such as tourist boards, civic groups, or independent artists groups) becoming venues showing art works; or even just opening their doors during art trail weekends, encouraging visits and donations. For inspiration look at St Nicholas Church, Salthouse, Norfolk and Levens Village Arts Trail.

The Arts Society (formerly NADFAS) Church Trails exist to guide children and accompanying adults on a church visit, to look at its history and architecture. They are created by Arts Society members and could be a great way to highlight your fundraising campaign. By reaching out to your local art and heritage lovers, you could encourage a connection to this national organisation with almost 400 individual societies and thousands of individual supporters. Visit the Arts Society website for further information:

National Churches Trust ‘Explore Churches’ web resource lists hundreds of churches, encouraging people to visit them on days out; and including your church is a good way to highlight your fundraising projects. Thousands of people visit this national charity’s website; entries act as adverts for churches, and listing is free - just fill in a simple online form.

Rural churches have fascinating histories that often link to larger historic sites. Whether they are in private or state ownership, the UK’s stately homes, ruined monasteries, and castles attract millions of visitors from all over the world. By forging a link with a nearby heritage visitor attraction, you can create opportunities for signposting to your church and welcome new faces. Consider inviting the marketing and communications manager of your local heritage site to explore ideas. There may be surprising connections that would help promote both your fundraising plans and their visitor attraction. For example, in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, The World of James Herriot Visitor Attraction and the nearby church St Mary's work closely together and signpost to each other; and in Whalley, Lancashire, St Mary & All Saints opens to visitors as part of the National Open Garden Scheme, which also links to the nearby English Heritage attraction Whalley Abbey.

If not already listed, explore the potential of getting your church on Historic England’s national heritage list. Having listed status improves your chances of success in securing funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England grants, the government Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, and from trusts and foundations. Having a formal listing will also open up inclusion of your church on the ‘Heritage at Risk’ register. Grade I, II* and II listed churches are all eligible, and there are six local offices covering six regions in England – call Historic England customer services on 0370 333 0607 to be put through to your region, or visit the website.

The four new NLHF ‘Investment principles’ make it easier, in principle, for churches to meet the eligibility criteria. By building your funding application around

1. saving heritage
2. protecting the environment
3. Inclusion, access, and participation
4. organisational sustainability

You will have a better chance of success. NLHF is looking for your project to ‘make a difference for heritage’, the guiding objective woven through their new 10-year strategy, ‘Heritage 2033’. Guidance and detail on each of the four principles is available on the NLHF website.

If you are planning a capital campaign and a National Lottery Heritage Fund bid, you can improve your chances of success with a strong interpretation plan about the history of your church. Volunteer local historians may be on your doorstep and willing to help you create this; it is also a great way to make connections with their network of colleagues and friends, and find potential new donors. Visit the British Association for Local History website for more information and contact details.

Put your church on the global map! By creating a free Google maps entry, the name of your church will appear as a local feature when people search the area. It is a quick and easy way to highlight your presence – hikers, nature lovers, local history buffs who may not have spotted you before, will now know about you. The Church in Wales website has a helpful guide to adding your church to Google maps.

For more information, guidance, and tips for small rural churches, please see our article Fundraising in rural parishes.