Grants from Scotland’s Churches Trust and parent organisations the Scottish Churches Architectural Heritage Trust (SCAHT) and Scotland’s Churches Scheme (SCS) have been temporarily halted.

In a statement on its website the Trust reports they have had to ‘pause’ the programme.

The statement reads: “Sadly, for ourselves, as has been the case for many small charities, the last few years have proven to be exceptionally challenging. The traditional sources of income that we might once have relied upon to supplement and support our grant-giving and other regular activities, such as organ scholarships and concerts, have all-but dried up or have been increasingly focused elsewhere.

“As a consequence, we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily pause all of our grant-giving while we review our grants programme and its priorities.”

The statement adds that grants already approved will be paid in full, and that members of the grants committee and office staff will be able to make general suggestions about the repair and maintenance of churches as well as possibly signpost churches to other grant-giving bodies.