THE budget boost for crumbling churches has been welcomed by religious leaders in West Devon.
Chancellor Gordon Brown in last week?s budget announced that renovations to churches and other sacred buildings would now qualify for a full VAT rebate ? previously, churches could only claim back 1.5% of the tax paid. The new ruling will run from now until March 2006.
It is good news for the dozens of churches in the borough which rely on constant community fundraising efforts to pay for renovation work.
The Rev Simon May, Rural Dean for the Tavistock area, said: ?This will be beneficial to all churches ? it will really be welcomed.
?It will make a lot of difference. Anglican churches have been spending thousands of pounds every year on renovations, so this will be a huge benefit for them.
?I suppose we feel we are looking after buildings which have been there for a long time, we have an obligation to maintain them, but it?s been very hard paying VAT on top of that.?