Church buildings / DAC
|
The Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches (DAC) is a statutory body which plays an important role in advising parishes, the Archdeacons, the Bishop and the Chancellor of the Diocese on matters relating to the care and use of church buildings in the Diocese, including their contents and churchyards. For more information about the DAC click here. Faculty Jurisdiction (Ecclesiastical Exemption)Faculty jurisdiction is the process which ensures that all repairs and alterations to churches, their contents and churchyards are planned and carried out with proper consideration to the historic fabric and architectural significance of the building and to the archaeological impact on the churchyard, while balancing the needs and mission of a parish. For more information about faculties click here. Before you can petition (apply) for faculty, you will need to send in details to the DAC via the Online Faculty System. The DAC will give its formal recommendation about the proposal in a Notification of Advice. The Notification of Advice will be sent to you via Online Faculty System together with the Petition for Faculty Form and guidance about the next steps you need to take. Contact the DAC Secretary for details on how to proceed. For more information about how to petition for faculty click here. Routine Repairs and Maintenance – Minor WorksNot all routine work on churches and churchyards requires faculty permission. Under the Faculty Jurisdiction Rules 2015, which came into effect on 1 January 2016, the works listed in Table 1 List A may be undertaken, subject to certain specified conditions, without the need for consultation with the Archdeacon or DAC. Items detailed in Table 1 List B may, subject to any specified conditions, be undertaken without a faculty if the Archdeacon has been consulted and given notice to the parish in writing that the work can be undertaken without a faculty. The Archdeacon is required to consult with a DAC officer or member. Applications for List B works should be made via the Online Faculty System. For more information click on the Faculty Jurisdiction Rules, and List A and List B These Rules create a nationally agreed standard for works which do not need a faculty, and replace the previous minor matters list. There is no financial threshold to works covered by the A and B lists. However there are a number of conditions and it important that these are followed. The DAC Secretary will be able to advise you. Some works are specifically excluded and these are listed in Rule 3.5 also copied at the end of List B. Any works which are not detailed on these lists will require a faculty. For more information about how to Petition for Faculty, click here. DAC Informal Advice (for re-ordering and some specialist work)The DAC often provides informal advice to parishes before the formal application is submitted:
Contact
|
DAC Secretary
Secretary to DAC Secretary