Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches

Last Updated on Thursday, 19 January 2012 14:00

DAC COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2012

  Chairman - Professor Janet Spencer BA(Hons) PhD

The Venerable Dr Christopher Cunliffe, Archdeacon of Derby

The Venerable Christine Wilson, Archdeacon of Chesterfield

Mr Richard Brook, Conservation Architect

Dr Christopher Charlton OBE, former Director of Cromford Mill Project and former Secretary of the Arkwright Society, Member nominated by English Heritage

Mr Robert Cumming, Churchwarden, Lay Representative of parishes within the Diocese

The Revd John Drackley, Adviser on Stained Glass and Memorials

The Revd Julian Hollywell

Mr William Hopewell, former Churchwarden, Lay Representative of parishes within the Diocese

Mr Barry Joyce MBE, Conservation and Design Officer for Derbyshire County Council, Member nominated by Local Authorities

The Revd Richard Reade

Mr Peter Rogan, Conservation Architect

Mr Richard Smith, Conservation Architect

Professor Janet Spencer, Member nominated by the Amenity Societies and Adviser on Textiles and Church Furnishings

Mrs Elizabeth Walker, Conservation Architect

DAC Secretary: Mrs Virginia Davis
Tel: 01332 388683   Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

THE ROLE OF THE DAC

 

The Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches (the DAC) is a statutory body set up under The Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure of 1991.  Its membership consists of representatives of the clergy and national heritage organisations together with some architects and others with specialist knowledge relating to the care, history and artistic content of church buildings.  Further, the DAC is able to draw on the expertise of a range of specialist consultants.  All serve in a voluntary capacity.

There are over 300 churches in the Diocese of Derby, the earliest dating from Anglo-Saxon times.  They are a visible and tangible expression of our faith, as well as being a focus for local mission.

All our churches have developed and evolved, and will continue to do so.  At a time of increasing awareness of heritage issues, it is important to treasure what we have received from the past in order to hand it on to the future.  Unsuitable repair is an obvious danger to our churches, but so too is over-frequent or inappropriate alteration.

The DAC has the formal responsibility of advising the Chancellor of the Diocese on the care of churches and their furnishings, as well as on churchyards.  This happens by way of the “faculty” procedure, which is the Church’s equivalent of listed building consent.  A faculty grants permission to make changes to a church or churchyard.  It therefore protects churchwardens and PCCs from being accused of altering our heritage without appropriate consultation.

The work of the DAC is vital if the Church is to retain freedom to handle its own planning consents and so protect the role of churches as places used for worship.

In addition to its formal role, the DAC owns a responsibility to help those who have the care of church buildings.  In doing this, it is always mindful of Section 1 of the 1991 Measure: the DAC "shall have due regard to the role of a church as a local centre of worship and mission".

Please click on the following links for guidance notes and applications forms:

Items relating to faculty applications:

DAC advice application form
Faculty petition for work to trees
Short guide to faculty procedure
Guidelines for preparing Statements of Need and Significance
Chancellor’s Guidance as to matters not requiring a faculty

DAC Meetings 2012 with closing dates for applications

General Guidance Notes:

Carpet in churches

CBC Guidance for Parishes Procurement and Tendering Rules

Churchyard memorials and gravestones regulations
Churchyard memorials, Chancellor’s general note
Control of Asbestos
Electrical work in churches
Electrical portable appliance testing
Fundraising for building projects
Furnishings and fabrics
Heating systems
Major building projects
Memorial stained glass
Notice boards
Pipe organs, acquisition and disposal

Safety in Churches January 2011
Smokefree England – signage guide
Theft of metals
Trees in churchyards
Vertical ladders

You can read more about the care of church buildings by visiting www.churchcare.co.uk