Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC)

Making changes to church, 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.

DAC Meetings

The meetings of the DAC are held every month, with the exception of August and December. All of this expertise is available to parishes at no charge.

If you are considering a faculty application or other permission, please speak to Stephen Challenger, DAC Secretary, in the first instance who will guide you through the process in the current situation. 

Understanding The DAC Process

Before carrying out any works to your church building, it is important to establish what level of permission may be required.

Helpful Resources

• Supporting Building Projects and the Faculty Process
  Practical guidance from ChurchCare on planning building projects and understanding the Faculty system.

• How We Manage Our Buildings
  An overview of how church buildings are cared for and managed within the Church of England.

• List A and List B Works
  If the proposed work does not appear on either list, a full Faculty application will likely be required.

• Online Faculty System
  All Faculty applications must be submitted through the Church of England's Online Faculty System.

Need Advice?

If your PCC is unsure what level of consent may be required for a project, please contact Stephen, Sophie or Isobel to discuss the proposal before works begin.

If your PCC would like to arrange a site visit, please contact Sophie by email and she will be happy to help.