Devon churches urged to join National Churches Survey to protect historic buildings

Churches across Dartmoor and the wider Devon area are being encouraged to take part in a nationwide survey to help safeguard their future and celebrate the community services they offer.

The National Churches Survey has been launched to gather detailed data on the state of church buildings across the UK and better understand the wide-ranging community activities they support.

Churches of all denominations across Devon are being urged to complete the survey, with campaigners stressing that the results will ultimately benefit both the buildings and the communities that rely on them.

The Moorlander understands that several churches across Dartmoor and Devon have been deemed ‘at risk’ by Historic England, including:

• Church of St German, Germansweek – Priority C: slow decay; no solution agreed
• Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bickington – Priority C: slow decay; no solution agreed
• Church of St Thomas à Becket, Bridford – Priority C: slow decay; no solution agreed
• Church of St John the Baptist, Market Street, Hatherleigh – Condition: poor; Priority C: slow decay; no solution agreed
• Church of Holy Cross, Highampton – Condition: very bad; Priority A: immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric; no solution agreed
• Parish Church of Holy Trinity, Buckfastleigh – Condition: poor; Priority C: slow decay; no solution agreed
• Church of St Michael, Ilsington – Condition: poor; Priority C: slow decay; no solution agreed

The results of the survey will enable researchers to:

• Identify common issues faced by churches across different regions and denominations
• Gain insight into how churches manage repair and maintenance costs
• Recognise the breadth of community activities churches support and how volunteers contribute
• Provide a platform for volunteers to share their knowledge and concerns
• Help policymakers, dioceses and funders better target their support

The survey is open to all churches, chapels, meeting houses and cathedrals from any Christian denomination. 

It can be completed online at nationalchurchestrust.org/survey and takes around 30 minutes. The closing date is Sunday 13 July 2025.

Karl Newton, Deputy CEO of the National Churches Trust, said: “Churches are essential to the UK, not just as places of worship, but for the support they provide to local communities through activities such as food banks and mental health support, and for how they boost the economy by attracting tourists. The National Churches Survey provides a way for individual churches to share their stories, and by uniting these voices, it helps to both celebrate their contributions and advocate for continued support. The changes to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme are a timely reminder of why The National Churches Survey is so important.”

“We urge all churches, chapels and meeting houses in Devon to complete the National Churches Survey so that their voice can be heard.”

The survey aims to change perceptions of church buildings by highlighting their social value and ensuring their voices are heard. 

It will help paint a clearer picture for policymakers, funders, and the public, ultimately improving how resources are distributed to keep churches open and thriving.

As part of the campaign, organisations across the Christian spectrum are showing support.

Emily Gee, Director for Church and Cathedral Buildings, Church of England, said: "We all know just how important church buildings are, all they mean to our communities and their contribution to place and the local economy. This survey will help equip us with the data we need to show policy makers and financial decision takers why churches matter and how much they mean to so many people and places in the UK. Churches give so much while being responsible for so much, so please complete the survey and help the National Churches Trust and its partners to tell the story of our churches in this generation."

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland said: “In our ecumenical conversations about mission and ministry in today’s society, the challenges and opportunities associated with the ownership of buildings are a recurring theme. This research offers a timely opportunity to provide an up-to-date evidence base for those conversations, supporting us as we seek to make the best possible use of our collective resources in living out our Christian values, sharing our faith and loving our neighbour.”

The United Reformed Church added: “The United Reformed Church welcomes the survey by the National Churches Trust, which will look at the future of the vital community spaces that all churches provide. This is a chance to share experiences and to highlight the essential role churches play in supporting local communities, activities, and groups. Churches have always been more than just places of worship, with millions of people using churches each and every week – lifelines for many communities.”

In England alone, 959 places of worship are now on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register, including 55 newly added in 2024. 

Many of these are rural churches, including those on Dartmoor and across Devon, that face additional pressures due to rising maintenance costs.