26 churches in East Devon are being given cash grants from the UK government's Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.

Nearly 5,000 religious buildings in the United Kingdom have received a share of up to £42 million in public funding as the government continues its support for the conservation of listed places of worship across the country.

As more than one million people are expected to attend Midnight Mass and Christmas Day services, they might be attending one of the 4,900 places of worship which have benefited from government support over the last year to ease the cost of essential conservation and maintenance work.

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said: "As churches across the country fill up for Nativity plays and Christmas services, it’s a reminder of the huge role that they and other places of worship play in the lives of their community.

"The Listed Places of Worship Scheme supports these precious buildings, which are cherished by people of all faiths and none.

With nearly 5,000 supported over the past year alone, I’m glad to see the difference it has made to visitors, worshippers, and the people who look after them for the benefit of future generations."

Lyme Regis

St Michael and George Roman Catholic Church: £1,374.67

St Peter and St Paul Church: £1,566.44 

Sidmouth

St John the Evangelist: £5,516.00

St Mary & St Peter Church: £2,549.12

St Giles & St Nicholas: £4,398.68.

St John the Baptist: £123.30

Ottery St Mary

St John the Baptist Church: £123.30

Seaton

Church of St Gregory: £361.80

St Winifred's Church: £1,075.92

Axminster

St Mary the Virgin: £2,171.88

St John the Baptist Church: £2,689.95

Church of St. Andrews: £839.36 

St Peters Church: £1,069.09

St Michael's Church: £4,303.00

Honiton

St Andrews Church: £355.07

St Mary & St Giles Buckerell: £4,267.22

St Nicholas' Parish Church: £1,214.56 

St. Mary's Church, Upottery: £2,005.56

St Michael & All Angels: £936.06

St Michaels Cotleigh: £2,052.80

Exmouth

Holy Trinity Church: £2,381.36

St Margarets & St Andrews Church: £3,218.62

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: 952.00

Budleigh Salterton

St Peters Church: £2,512.60

All Saints Church- Church of England: £268.52

Salem Chapel: £256.43