Support for the Church Construction Foundation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oldenburg

Since 2003, the Foundation for Church Buildings in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oldenburg – Church Building Foundation – has continuously supported projects in Lower Saxony aimed at the preservation, restoration, and new construction of sacred buildings and their furnishings. Funding is provided for measures related to church buildings, chapels, and cemetery facilities as well as their inventory such as altars, pulpits, baptismal fonts, organs, and bells. In addition, contemporary art projects integrated into the architecture are supported to actively further develop the cultural and ecclesiastical heritage. Eligible to apply are congregations, church building associations, individuals, and public institutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oldenburg. Grants may be requested for construction costs, restoration costs, as well as for inventory and art-in-architecture expenses. The project duration must not exceed 24 months.

Submissions are possible at any time and are reviewed during the spring session (by the end of February) or the autumn session (by the end of August). A prerequisite for a successful application is early coordination with the Higher Church Council as well as the submission of a fully completed application form including a project description with plans and images, a cost and financing plan, and information on the execution period and applicants. The foundation independently decides on the amount of funding; as a rough guideline, an application amount of up to one third of the total costs or over €10,000 is recommended. Upon project completion, a proof of use must be submitted within two years. Through this funding initiative, the structural and artistic heritage of sacred monuments is sustainably secured and contemporary sacred art in the region is strengthened.