Greater London has one of the densest church estates in the UK — ~1,200 CofE parishes split across three dioceses (London, Southwark, Chelmsford), 200+ Catholic parishes (Westminster, Southwark, Brentwood), substantial Methodist London District, Greek Orthodox, Polish Catholic, and major multi-faith communities including 1,800+ mosques and 350+ synagogues.
Notable churches in Greater London
- St Paul's Cathedral
- Westminster Abbey (Royal Peculiar, not diocesan)
- Westminster Cathedral (RC, J.F. Bentley, 1903)
- Southwark Cathedral
- St Martin-in-the-Fields
- St Bride's Fleet Street
- Brompton Oratory
Funding picture in Greater London
Multiple diocesan programmes (London £30k, Southwark £25k, Westminster RC £25k, Brentwood, Chelmsford) combine with Buildings for Mission, the 0% VAT rate for charitable-use buildings (to 31 March 2027), GLA London Environment Strategy support, and London Climate Action Hub funding. A typical funded parish project in Greater London combines national Buildings for Mission with the diocesan capital programme, Listed Places of Worship VAT for listed buildings, and (often) Allchurches Trust or local foundation grants. Combined coverage of 60-90% of capex is achievable for well-prepared projects.
For full diocese-specific detail see our Diocese of London page or our complete grants and funding guide.
Towns and cities we cover in Greater London
How we work in Greater London
- Free desk feasibility — typically inside 7 working days. PCC-ready report covering system size, capex, available grants, payback model.
- On-site survey — structural and electrical engineers visit. Diocesan architect engaged for listed buildings.
- Faculty / Listed Building Consent — for CofE parishes; civil regime for non-CofE buildings.
- Grant applications — Buildings for Mission, diocesan capital, charitable trusts.
- Install and commission — typically 1-3 weeks on site for most parish projects.