‘DEVASTATING’ price hikes for church repair work have been laid bare in a new study which claims Barnsley’s historic places of worship could face an uncertain future.

The Chronicle revealed last week that St John’s in Penistone became the latest in a string of churches in the borough to require costly roof repair work.

The race is on to secure the £150,000 that’s required to stop water ingress from its patched-up, failing roof which was damaged by lead thieves more than a decade ago.

However, the National Churches Trust warned repairs are now 20 per cent more costly due to a government decision to implement VAT tariffs.

The Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme allows listed churches, chapels, meeting houses and cathedrals to reclaim VAT on urgent repair projects.

It has helped 13,000 places of worship since it was introduced in 2001, the vast majority of them churches.

However, the government has only decided to renew the scheme until March and have introduced a ‘devastating cap’ - meaning churches can only claim up to £25,000 back on their repair bill, leaving a huge shortfall.

This, coupled with complex work, has left crumbling churches at risk.

Claire Walker, chief executive of the National Churches Trust, said: “Changes by the government to the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme have effectively imposed VAT on listed churches that need any major repairs.

“This will be unaffordable to many of them as the burden of caring for these buildings already falls onto local people and could lead to even more churches falling into disrepair or closing completely.

“There are already more than 900 churches on the Heritage at Risk Register in England, rising every year.

“But this is about more than just heritage - churches host and run support for local people; mental health groups, foodbanks, warm spaces and parent and toddler groups, which would be impossible for local authorities to fund and run if the church was forced to close.

“We should be making it easier for churches to help local people, not cutting off vital funding that keeps these important buildings open.

“The VAT scheme must be made permanent, and its cap removed in the upcoming spending review to protect our church heritage and to see these buildings kept open and serving local people.

“We’re delighted to be able to support St John’s in their efforts to carry out urgent repairs to their beautiful building.”

On the recommendation of the National Churches Trust, St John’s will receive a £10,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation towards the cost of the roof replacement, it was announced this week.

Grade I-listed St John’s contains some pre-conquest material but most dates back to the 1200s, with its 80-foot-high, eight-bell tower added in around 1500.

In the nave, there are 33 carved bosses, all originally carved in 1375 and feature a variation of faces and creatures pulling faces.

There is also a medieval stone altar, which is a single slab of stone, originally from St James’ Church, Midhopestones.

Reverend David Hopkin added: “I am very pleased, on behalf of the church, to have received £10,000 towards the nave roof repairs to St John’s.

“This certainly helps us make some progress with a boost to of funds.

“We look forward eventually to replacing the stolen lead.

“The temporary roof will be replaced with a steel-coated one.

“There will also be some work done to the gutters and drainpipes to ensure effective drainage of water from the new roof, essential for making sure it is fit for the future.”