Buildings

What is the Diocesan Advisory Committee (the ‘DAC’)

The DAC is a statutory body which provides advice at diocesan level, especially to parishes, The Diocesan Chancellor and the Archdeacons, in relation to church buildings and other places of worship.  The DAC’s role is to enable parishes to care for and develop their church buildings, their contents and churchyards.

The Church of England has its own legal system, through which you obtain permission for any work to or in your church building or in your churchyard, and by which the introduction or removal of furnishings or fittings is authorised.  The duties of the Committee and its constitution are governed by the current Faculty Jurisdiction Measure and Rules:

•  For major works this permission is called a Faculty
•  For minor works, it is an Archdeacon’s Letter of Authority.  

For further guidance regarding the process for getting the appropriate permission and for advice on a wide range of other topics, please see section ‘DAC Advice Leaflets‘.

Who are its members

The Committee includes clergy and specialists who can provide advice on a wide range of subjects including architecture, archaeology, bells, heating, lighting, re-ordering, organs, stained glass.  The Committee meets six times a year.

The DAC also welcomes the opportunity to be involved at an early stage when the PCC is formulating ideas for alteration or refurbishment to the building.  The office can arrange visits to your church with some DAC members and, if appropriate, Historic England, the local authority planners and/or amenity societies.  In the first instance please contact Debbie Cochrane.