Note 1.1: "solely or mainly"
The building’s sole or main use must be as a public place of worship.

Ancillary listed buildings are not included unless they fulfil all the same conditions as the principal building, i.e. their sole or main use is as a place of public religious worship..

Note 1.2: "public religious worship"
The scheme is designed to assist the repair of places or worship where the costs would be the responsibility of a local congregation or a recognised denomination or faith group. Private chapels, and chapels at schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, prisons and almshouses, that are not available to the general public for at least 6 religious services a year, whose sole or main purpose is not as a place of public religious worship, and where repair costs are not the responsibility of a local congregation or recognised faith group are not eligible under the scheme. By general public, this means attendance is available to anyone, not dependant on invitation, and is publicised.

A building used or available for use by a minister or religion wholly or mainly as a residence from which to preform the duties of his/her office is not included. Where a building meets all other eligibility criteria but includes a significant amount of space used for non-worship purposes, e.g. accommodation, leisure activities, commercial scale food preparation etc, we will not cover repairs to these areas.

The scheme covers only formally constituted religious organisations. You will be asked to certify that the religious organisation the place of worship serves:

• has charitable status, or is recognised as a charity by HMRC or the Inland Revenue in Scotland or Northern Ireland; or
• is covered by a parochial church council; or
• if none of these apply, you will be asked to provide a copy of your constitution.

Note 1.3: "six times a year"
The building must be used as a place of public worship at least six times a year. You will be asked to certify that this is the case.

Note 1.4:"monasteries, nunneries and specific organisations which look after redundant churches"

Places of worship used by monasteries, nunneries or other similar establishments, and churches owned or vested in certain specific organisations that look after redundant places of worship such as The Historic Chapels Trust, the Friends of Friendless Churches, the Scottish Redundant Churches Trust, the Churches Conservation Trust and the Welsh Religious Buildings Trust are not required to demonstrate the buildings are used for public religious worship at least six times a year.

For monasteries and nunneries, and similar establishments of other faiths, only the element of the building used for religious worship is eligible. Other areas within the building (e.g. accommodation, dining area etc) are not eligible. If works cover both eligible and ineligible areas, this split must be stated on the application.