The Diocesan Advisory Committee
The DAC (Diocesan Advisory Committee) is a statutory body whose functions are set out in ecclesiastical legislation. Its role is to advise the Chancellor, Archdeacons and parishes on proposals for works to church buildings and churchyards and church furnishings, and to advise more generally on the care and development of churches. In line with statutory provision and the priorities of Living God’s Love, the Committee has regard to churches as local centres of worship and mission, in which
- people can encounter God and be drawn into a worshipping community
- parishes can reach out in mission
- local communities can be transformed.
More information about the role of the DAC in the faculty system can be found on our Church Buildings and Churchyard page.
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.
DAC Meetings
2022 Meeting Dates
17/11/2022 (closing date for agenda items 04/11/2022)
2023 Meeting Dates
19/01/2023 (closing date for agenda items 06/01/2023)
16/03/2023 (closing date for agenda items 03/03/2023)
11/05/2023 (closing date for agenda items 28/04/2023)
06/07/2023 (closing date for agenda items 23/06/2023)
21/09/2023 (closing date for agenda items 08/09/2023)
16/11/2023 (closing date for agenda items 03/11/2023)
Please note that some of these meetings may be online.
Can I observe a DAC meeting?
The DAC welcomes observers to meetings from our parishes. If you are interested in observing a meeting, please contact the Team Secretary.
Whilst observers are very welcome, the DAC does not consider it is appropriate for parish representatives or their professional advisers to “present their case” at a meeting. The Committee believes that complex or contentious issues are best discussed during site visits, not at DAC meetings. There are two reasons for this: firstly it is better for DAC members to come to the church building or churchyard in question so that they have a real understanding of the situation. Secondly, the Chancellor deals with the final decision about works on the basis of a written submission and depends on good, clear documentation being provided for each application. If the written information provided for the DAC meeting is inadequate for the Committee it will certainly not be good enough for the Chancellor’s consideration. Verbal presentations at a DAC meeting would therefore not be helpful in the development of submissions that the Committee will recommend for a faculty application.
