The Diocesan Advisory Committee: Faculties and all that!! 13 July 2013 Sylvia Johnson DAC Secretary

Our church  The Church of England’s churches and cathedrals, of which are listed, are loved, cared for and financed by a vast army of volunteers – you!  The DAC wants to help you to share ideas, encourage the congregations to find out more about their buildings, maintain, develop and sustain them and not just see them as a burden.

Listing  If a church is listed it means that is recognised by the Government (via English Heritage) as being of exceptional historic or architectural importance, and about 45% of all Grade I buildings in England are churches.  If a church is listed it means that is recognised by the Government (via English Heritage) as being of exceptional historic or architectural importance, and about 45% of all Grade I buildings in England are churches.  We have a variety of churches in this Diocese – Grade I, Grade II*, Grade II and unlisted ones such as Cononley and Woodhall.

Examples of Grade I and unlisted churches St Christopher, Holme WoodBolton Priory

Use  The buildings in our diocese are often a centre for community or voluntary activities outside of worship, just as they have been used for many centuries. Increasingly, the Church is realising how much church buildings also matter to people who would not count themselves as regular worshippers. How do we develop the church buildings for mission and visitors?

Faculty Procedure  Faculty Jurisdiction  Any repairs, alterations or extension to a church building or changes to its contents or churchyard require a faculty, that is a licence authorising the work. The only exceptions to this rule are minor works specified by each individual diocese as not requiring faculty.  The requirement to obtain a faculty before undertaking any kind of works is a legal obligation and there are significant powers to deal with breaches, e.g. even extending to the demolition of a new church hall built without faculty permission.  Stage 1: Consultations with the DAC  Stage 2: Obtaining a faculty New floor needed!

Statements of Significance & Need  What are they?  A Statement of Significance is “a document which summarises the historical development of the church and identifies the important features that make major contributions to the character of the church”  A Statement of Need is “a document which sets out the reasons why it is considered that the needs of the parish cannot be met without making changes to the church building and the reasons why the changes are regarded as necessary to assist the church in its worship and mission”.  Why are they needed?  Who will prepare them?

Matters not requiring faculty  Minor works  Temporary Reordering  General Maintenance  Replacement for lead when stolen  Process of obtaining permission

Churchyard Rules  Rules, stones to use, application form  Open and closed churchyards

The DAC is here to help you  The DAC is here to help you through the process of maintaining and improving your church building and can provide assistance on who to speak to on a wide variety of subjects.

Process  The DAC are happy to receive preliminary enquiries by , by phone, or by letter and this can be dealt with by myself and the archdeacons or discussed at a DAC meeting. David Lee is the Acting Chair.  The DAC may then decide that a visit would be the best way forward – and these can easily be arranged.

Help  With completion of forms  With consultation with amenity societies  With expert advice  With insurance claims – particularly on the theft of lead and replacement with other materials  With fire risk assessment matters – via Ecclesiastical  Churchcare

How to appoint and work with an architect  Guidance  List of approved Quinquennial Inspectors  Involvement in faculty process  The Quinquennial Inspection  The Diocesan Scheme

Raising Funds  Heritage Lottery Fund  Churchcare funding section  Yorkshire Historic Churches  Diocesan Church Building Committee  VAT reclaim via Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme  WREN

Why national bodies are involved  The DAC and the national bodies are also involved in the Church's control systems over its buildings, which are designed to ensure that buildings are looked after responsibly for the benefit both of current and future worshippers.  The control systems are comparable to those used by the Government to control work to historic buildings, but recognise the mission and spiritual dimension of churches.

And finally  Maintenance and appropriate care are the basis for any preventive conservation.  A properly maintained church building will survive for future generations to enjoy. Good maintenance also saves money by minimising the need for major repairs. William Morris's motto - "stave off decay by daily care" - still holds true today.

Thanks  I cannot always answer your questions but I can usually find someone who can help – so please try!