Guidance for parishes

Visits to churches

Records

The Diocesan Advisory Committee is a committee reporting to the Diocesan Synod. Its constitution and terms of reference follow the model set out in the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1991. Broadly, its terms of reference are to advise parishes and the Chancellor on matters concerning the care of church buildings and their contents, including faculty petitions but also more informally. The same Measure requires all those concerned with the care and conservation of church buildings to have regard to the role of a church as a local centre of worship and mission and this principle underlies the DAC's work.
The areas on which the DAC can advise include:

• the grant of faculties
• the architecture, archaeology, art and history of places of worship
• the use, care, planning, design and redundancy of places of worship
• the use and care of the content of such places; and
• the use and care of churchyards and burial grounds.

Guidance for parishes
As well as replying to individual enquiries, the DAC issues advice leaflets on a range of matters. The Committee is not able to recommend any craftsman or contractor, although names and addresses held by the Committee can sometimes be passed on. However, the Committee is concerned that parishes should make proper enquiries themselves about the competence of those employed to undertake works to church buildings and should seek evidence of membership of professional bodies where appropriate (eg. NICEIC for electrical contractors; CORGI for heating contractors, etc.)
The DAC's members include professional people with expertise in areas including architecture, art history, liturgy, archaeology, engineering, bells, etc., as well as parish clergy and, ex officio, the archdeacons. The Committee can also call on a number of consultants with detailed knowledge of stained glass conservation, clocks, and other matters.
Visits to churches
Members of the DAC give of their time and expertise without remuneration (other than travel expenses, where claimed). The Church's system means that parishes are able to obtain advice and comments on proposed schemes of repair and
improvement without incurring the sort of costs which would be payable on lodging a planning application or other application for approval under secular building controls. The Committee meets seven times a year to consider a range of faculty applications and general matters. Many other requests for advice or comment on schemes, especially straightforward repairs, are dealt with between meetings by a standing committee procedure. The Archdeacons and the DAC staff at the Diocesan Office are happy to advise on the procedure in particular cases. The DAC is very glad to field a delegation to visit a church, especially where plans for reordering or a new building are being mooted. The opportunity can be taken to draw in other interested bodies such as the local authority or English Heritage, so that a way forward can be agreed which is likely to be feasible and acceptable to all parties.
Records
The DAC holds records relating to church buildings, including their listed status, previous quinquennial inspection reports, faculty histories and inventories, and the staff at the Diocesan Office are happy to reply to enquiries from parish clergy and PCC officers. Sensitive documents such as inventories are generally stored securely at the County Record Office in Hertford, but may be accessed by DAC staff and parish officials.