Faculties

If you want to make any alterations to your church building, you will need to apply for what is known as a faculty.

The faculty process provides a statutory framework for a church to balance its missional needs with heritage considerations. 

It ensures all repairs and alterations to churches and churchyards are planned and carried out with proper consideration given to the historic fabric and architectural significance of the building, and to the archaeological impact on the churchyard.

Those involved in the process include:

  • The Chancellor of the Diocese, the Judge of the Diocese, who is the final arbiter for all Faculty petitions.
  • The Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC), the statutory body responsible for advising the Chancellor of the Diocese about the judgments he makes. 

The DAC is here to help you make sure you have the correct paperwork and all the necessary information you need for your alteration proposals. 

More about what a faculty is
 

When a faculty is needed

There are a number of more minor works that don’t need to go through this process. These are detailed in the 2022 Schedule 1 Lists A and B:

  • List A covers work that will not require permission
  • List B details work that may be authorised directly by the Archdeacon

So, the first thing to check is whether what you propose is covered by List A or List B.

A number of items specifically require a faculty even if they are included in List A or List B. Find them below:

Work requiring a faculty
 

I need a faculty. What do I do now?

There are three main steps in the process for applying for faculty:
 

1. Consultation before submitting an application
2. Consideration of proposal by the DAC
3. After the DAC meeting
 
Other useful documents

Faculty Jurisdiction Rules 2015 as amended 2024
Faculty Lists A and B 2022

 

For further help and assistance with any part of the faculty process, please don't hesitate to contact the DAC team.

 

 


Key Contacts

Sarah Anderson

DAC Secretary

Get in touch

 
Izabella Rowbotham

DAC Assistant

Get in touch

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