1. Looking after your building
Training for new Churchwardens
Saturday 22 July 2017
Looking after your building
Paul Broadhurst, DAC Secretary

2. Your church building: inspiration or tragedy?

3. Scope of today’s presentation
Understanding significance
Faculties and the DAC
Health and safety
Quinquennial inspections
Metal theft
Environmental initiatives
Wider community use

4. Architectural/technical and legal advice: DAC
Support & information

5. Significance: buildings
Unlisted Grade 2
Grade 2* Grade 1

6. Significance beyond the buildings
Artistry, not just obvious artwork
Items in churchyard
can be separately-listed
Scheduled ancient monument
Social significance:
fluffy, intangible but valued

8. The Faculty System An “approved system of control” Replaces:
Listed Building Consent
Conservation Area Consent
But does not replace:
Local Planning Consent
Building Regulations

9. From Jan 2016 lots of work doesn’t need a faculty:
List A: no authorisation required (but need to record)
List B: must be authorised by Archdeacon
You need to:
familiarise yourself with the Lists and their exclusions
register for the Online Faculty System
submit/record List A/B work via Online Faculty System

10. Faculties are a legal requirement for any work beyond “Lists A and B”
Church
Higher grade listing
= greater sensitivity
Churchyard
Walls
“Fancy” memorials
Sundials
Other structures
Closed churchyards
Contents
Significance may not always be obvious

11. Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC)
Clergy, architects, other experts:
Understand worship and mission
Balance church needs and heritage

12. Ecclesiastes 1:9 - There is nothing new under the sun!
DAC informal advice
Ecclesiastes 1:9 - There is nothing new under the sun!
Specialist technical advice
Get on right track early
Save time and money
Longer view

13. Formal recommendation on each faculty application:
DAC formal advice
Formal recommendation on each faculty application:
Recommend
Not object
Not recommend
Best to have DAC support if possible

14. Faculties ensure proper:
Design
Consultation
Response to objections
Legal authorisation
Records

15. Faculty applications:
who does what?
Need – PCC define and document their needs
Understand – PCC research the building / fabric
Solution – PCC take advice from architect / DAC / etc.
Consult – Normally PCC
Apply – PCC submit application
Assess – DAC makes formal recommendation
Notices – PCC display notices
Complaints – PCC respond to Chancellor
Faculty – Issued by Chancellor
Most input is by the PCC!

16. Faculty timescales Normally takes 10 weeks:
2 weeks – Initial DAC review
2 weeks – DAC Office processing but can prioritise if you explain why
4 weeks – Display of public notices
2 weeks – Residual legal action
But it can take a lot longer:
Miss monthly DAC submission deadline = extra 4 weeks
Queries = weeks or months
Consultation problems = weeks or months
Formal complaints / Consistory Court = maybe many months

17. Faculties: PCC needs to plan ahead
If planning a new heating system:
start ball rolling in early spring (quotes/architect/faculty)
then do the work over summer (circumvent weddings)
avoid winter panic!

18. Faculties: PCC needs to provide sensible supporting details
Clear
Comprehensive
Concise

19. Unsatisfactory supporting information This didn’t get recommended …
Application for handrails at chancel steps in Grade II building
Materials?
Fixings?
Ends of rails?
Panels?
Colour?
Building Regs?
Visual context?

20. … but the architect’s drawing did ...

21. ... with clear supporting photos so that the DAC and Chancellor could understand the context

22. Online Faculty System Required for:
For submitting faculty and “List B” applications
For recording “List A” work
Benefits:
Online help
Tracking
Archive
No postage

23. Consultation Potential consultees: Historic England – Grade 1 or 2*
Amenity societies – All listed buildings
The Victorian Society
The Georgian Group
Other specialist groups - e.g. historic organs
Church Buildings Council (referral by DAC)
Local planning authority for external work
Chancellor always requires sight of
relevant, professional opinion

24. Wardens / PCC need to:
Research and listen
Explain and justify
Focus on the best outcome for everyone

25. Emergencies Immediate permission for such emergencies as:
dangerous masonry
failed heating during cold weather
But PCC still needs to supply clear information

26. Quinquennial inspections
Inspection of church every 5 years:
Identify issues and plan to address them
Some jobs can be done in-house, e.g. gutter cleaning
Diocese pays for the report
Foster relationship with your architect
You can change architect if you wish

27. Health & Safety Issues to consider include:
Trip hazards (e.g. bases of fonts)
Fire risk (old electrics / lightning conductor)
Asbestos
Trees / memorials
No mystery: common sense
Lots of help on DAC web pages

28. Metal theft Risk assessment available via DAC web pages
Plemstall St Peter
June 2012
Warmingham St Leonard
May 2015
Thieves used cherry picker and low loader

29. Environment initiatives
What do you want?
to act responsibly? or
to save money?
Be clear what you’re aiming for
Beware “eco bling” – simple measures often best:
Service boiler(s)
Reduce draughts - but keep “good” ventilation
Smart heating control
See DAC web page on “saving energy”

30. What does your building say …
… to possibly thousands of passers-by every day of the week?

31. Wider community use DAC encourages (sensible) boldness!
Focus on specific needs

32. “O still, small voice of calm!”