Faculty Pocedure - The DAC for the Care of Churches

The Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches

8. The first step is to seek the advice of the DAC, which is the advisory body on matters affecting places of worship in the Diocese. The Committee is required to give advice to the Chancellor, the Archdeacon and intending applicants in connection with Faculty applications.
9. The Committee normally meets every six weeks. It is important to find out from the DAC Secretary the date of the next meeting because papers will need to be submitted by the closing date before that meeting. The DAC issues an informal guide to Parishes on the information which an application should contain. This can be obtained from the DAC Secretary.
10. Full details of the proposed work, with a brief Statement indicating the need for the work to be carried out, together with plans, designs and specifications, usually with an estimate for the work, the comments of the Quinquennial Inspector, the name of the Architect employed (if it is not to be the Quinquennial Inspector) and the firm which will carry it out, together with photographs of the Church and any articles to be introduced or removed from the Church, should be sent to the DAC Secretary at the above address.

    If the proposals involve a significant change to a listed building, the DAC should be provided with both a "Statement of Need" and a "Statement of Significance". Information on these can be obtained from the Registry or the DAC Secretary. You are also advised to obtain the booklet "Making Changes to a Listed Church", which is available from Church House, Great Smith Street, SW1P 3NZ (telephone 020 7898 1000).

11. If the proposals concern an organ, bells, a clock, etc., the papers will be referred to the Committee's Advisers on these matters by the DAC Secretary. They will report on the technical merits of the proposals.
12. After the proposals have been considered by the Committee the plans and other documents will be returned to the applicants. The applicants will also receive the Committee's certificate relating to the proposals, on which will be listed the plans and specifications recommended by the DAC. This will indicate whether the Committee has decided to recommend the proposals, or to raise no objection to them, or not to recommend them.

It will also indicate (i) whether or not the Committee considers that the proposals will result in a material alteration to the appearance of the Church or affect its setting, and (ii) whether or not it is considered that the proposals will affect the archaeological interest of the Church. In this respect it may also recommend that the applicants should consult English Heritage, the local Planning Authority, the relevant national amenity society and/or the Council for the Care of Churches, before submitting a Petition.

Note: A Petition may still be submitted to the Diocesan Registrar even if the DAC have decided not to recommend the proposal. It should be borne in mind, though, that the Chancellor places considerable weight on the advice of the DAC, although the Chancellor is not bound by it.