Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announced £200,000 in funding for repairs to historic church buildings in Northern Ireland. The National Churches Trust will administer the funds for structural and fabric work at four sites.

The churches receiving support include Mount Merrion Parish Church and Bloomfield Presbyterian Church in Belfast, Whiteabbey Presbyterian Church in Newtownabbey, and Seymour Street Methodist Church in Lisburn.

Lyons stated his department has backed the National Churches Trust since 2018 through the Historic Environment Fund and Covid recovery funding. He noted the trust's role in maintaining places of worship for the long term and expressed satisfaction with the new allocation for this year's grants.

Claire Walker, chief executive of the National Churches Trust, welcomed the funding and the ongoing partnership over eight years. She said the grants will cover essential repairs to keep the buildings open, safe and accessible.

Walker highlighted the efforts of local congregations and volunteers in caring for the sites. She affirmed the trust's dedication to aiding churches across Northern Ireland via medium and large grant programs.