How devastating 'stealth tax' risks RECORD church closures with Britain's historic places of worship at risk: 'Everyone cared until Rachel Reeves!'

A devastating stealth tax could "accelerate" the number of British churches crumbling into disrepair, sources have told GB News as Britain's holy places of worship face a new peril from Rachel Reeves.

Hundreds of parishes across the UK could be forced to close as drastic changes to VAT refunds on repairs could make essential maintenance unaffordable, despite Christianity's growth in recent years. 

Under controversial new rules brought in by the Chancellor last April, the maximum amount of cash each church can claim back each year for renovation works through the Government's Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme is £25,000.

The National Churches Trust (NCT), which is leading a campaign to keep churches open across the UK, said 3,500 churches have closed in the last decade, with 2,000 set to shut within the next five — and there are fears that figure could grow after 500 ceased operations last year.

There are also concerns that the Treasury could permanently end the scheme, which is currently in place until March. This, the NCT argues, could mean churches are forced to take on 20 per cent of repair costs. The organisation is calling on Cabinet ministers to scrap the £25,000 VAT cap and make the Listed Places of Worship Scheme, introduced over two decades ago by then-Chancellor Gordon Brown, permanent.

Ben Sims, head of policy and public affairs at the NCT, told the People’s Channel: "Churches have been able to rely on the scheme since 2001 and every Government until now had believed it is important to refund the VAT on churches because of all the charity work they do.

"We know there are certain churches that have been doing very big projects and when they found out they could only claim £25,000 this year have actually cancelled their projects. "There are about 200 churches which are going to be affected by the cap this year." Beyond serving as a place of worship, many churches operate food banks, serve as warm spaces and run groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and toddler groups. Mr Sims said a spike in church closures could have a "knock-on effect" on the National Health Service, claiming they save the taxpayer £8.5billion each year.

FULL ARTICLE AT: https://www.gbnews.com/news/labour-stealth-task-record-church-closures-historic-buildings-at-risk