English Heritage launched their Inspired! campaign in the Crypt of St Mary Magdalene Church in Paddington, London, this month with an announcement that almost £1billion is needed over the next five years to carry out necessary repairs on England\'s listed places of worship. This, they say, exceeds the amount raised by congregations by £118million a year. Grants available from English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund and other sources currently total only £40million.

English Heritage say it is not reasonable for the government to meet the entire shortfall but are asking for support of £8.84million a year for three years to fund Support Officers, training programmes, maintenance and small repair grants and to enable English Heritage to re-write out-dated list descriptions for all grade I listed places of worship. They are also urging church authorities to take an even greater strategic and supportive role in managing their historic places of worship rather than relying on heroic but under-resourced individual congregations to do it themselves. And they suggest concerned members of the public should make a \'covenant\' by offering time or expertise, creating or joining a Friends group, donating to one of the national charities that care for places of worship or supporting one of the 31 county historic churches trusts that aim to develop interest in places of worship.