Making changes to churches, contents or grounds requires submission of a faculty application (a request for permission) to the Chancellor of the Diocese.
The Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC), a body set up by Church of England legislation, is there to make recommendations to the Chancellor, and to advise the parish when changes are requested.
Faculties are then issued by the Chancellor or the Archdeacons, taking the DAC’s recommendations into account.
DAC members serve on a voluntary basis and are appointed by the Bishop’s Council. The committee members include a range of specialists on architecture, liturgy, archaeology, engineering, and representatives from Local Authorities and Amenity Societies and the Archdeacons.
All of this expertise is available to parishes at no charge. If you are considering a faculty application please speak to Stephen Challenger, DAC Secretary, in the first instance who will guide you through the process in the current situation. Please contact Stephen Challenger.
Learn more about the support and advice on offer from our Church buildings and property team:
Diocesan Advisory Committee
Making changes to church, contents or grounds requires submission of a faculty application
Faculty Consent And Registry
The Diocesan Registrar and Bishop’s Legal Secretary is Mr Jeremy Wilding.
A Guide to List A, B and Faculty applications
What type of permission do you need? Making almost any physical change to your church building, its contents or to…
Diocesan Buildings For Mission Grants
Applications are now open for the much anticipated Minor Repairs and Improvements Grant Fund
Funding Directory
This is not an exhaustive list of funders, but is an excellent starting point for your funding search. There are…
Other Committees and Groups which are part of our governance structures:
Diocesan Synod
We have 409 churches in 356 parishes divided between 12 deaneries within two archdeaconries and we are led by the…
General Synod
The General Synod, which comprises a House of Bishops, a House of Clergy and a House of Laity, with representatives…
Bishop’s Council
The HDBF directors/trustees are the members of the Bishop’s Council which takes the lead on matters of diocesan strategy. The…
Mission & Pastoral Committee
The Archdeaconry and Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Committees