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Peterborough Diocesan Advisory Committee

Each Diocese has a Diocesan Advisory Committee ("DAC"). The functions of a DAC are set out in Schedule 2 of the The Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1991.

Each DAC will include members with expertise in particular areas relating to church buildings, such as architecture, stained glass, organs, archaeology, etc. The DAC's main role is in advising the Chancellor of the Diocese in connection with applications for Faculties to authorise the carrying out of works to churches and churchyards, but the DAC is willing to give preliminary advice to Parochial Church Councils prior to their making applications for Faculties.

Churchwardens or Parochial Church Councils wishing to apply for a Faculty should send full details of their proposals to the DAC. The Peterborough DAC meets approximately every six weeks. The dates of the meetings are set out below, together with the deadline dates by which proposals must be sent to the DAC for inclusion on the agenda of each meeting. After the DAC has considered a parish's proposals, the Secretary will send out all the necessary Faculty paperwork.

DAC Meetings and Agenda Deadlines

DAC Notes for Guidance

Index of Notes for Guidance

Legal and Practical Requirements

Access for People with Disabilities (2008)
Architects & Surveyors: Advice to PCCs on appointing (2006)
Architects & Surveyors: DAC expectations (2006)
Architects & Surveyors: Conservation Accreditation (2006)
Asbestos (2006)
Fire Safety (2008)
Fire Safety - Opinion by the Legal Advisory Commission
Funding (2006)
Health and Safety (2006)
Health and Safety Audit Questionnaire (2007)
Height: Working at Height Regulations 2005 (2006)
Parish Records: Safer Storage, Practicalities and the Law (2006)
Smoke-free (Signs) Regulations 2007
VAT Grant - Listed Places of Worship (2009)
VAT Grant - Memorials Grant Scheme (2006)
Works Checklist (2006)

Information about getting permission to undertake work in churches and churchyards

Archaeology (2006)
English Heritage and Faculty Jurisdiction: Northants and Rutland (2006)
English Heritage and Faculty Jurisdiction: Peterborough and The Soke - application for advice form to be used by parishes in the Eastern Region of EH on advice from the DAC (2006)
How to Obtain a Faculty (2006)
How to Obtain a Faculty: Flow Chart (2006)
Minor Matters (Chancellor's paper) (2007)
Site visits: when, why, who? (2006)
Specifications - DAC expectations (2006)
Specifications - Why does the DAC advise PCCs to get them? (2006)
Statements of Significance (2006)
Statements of Need: Making the most of your church building (2006)
What is the DAC? (2006)
Who's Who? - DAC Members 2009

Works affecting the exterior of the church building

Extensions and new build (2006)
Lime and historic fabric (2006)
Replacement roofing materials after lead thefts
Spire repairs (2006)
Standing fabric intrusion (making holes through historic fabric) (2006)

Internal works

Bells and Bell Frames (2006)
Bells and Bell frames: criteria for historic significance (2006)
CCTV (2006)
Chairs in church buildings (2006)
Clocks (2006)
Electrical work in churches (2006)
Electrical and lightning inspections (quinqunennial) (2006)
Electrical works - contractor's NICEIC/ECA declaration (2006)
Floors, levelling, altering and covering (2006)
Heating in churches (2006)
Heating methods (2006)
Internal lighting (2006)
Memorials and plaques in churches (2006)
Organs (2006)
Pew removal (2006)
Projector and screen installation (2006)
Redecoration (2006)
Re-ordering (internal) (2006)
Sound and audio loop systems (2006)
Stained glass windows (commissioning) (2006)
Telecommunications installations (2006)
Timber - assessment and treatment (2006)
WC and Utilities (2006)
Woodwork (2006)

Churches and churchyards

Areas for cremated remains (2006)
Cesspits and Septic Tanks (2006)
Churchyard walls (2006)
Drainage and French Drains (2006)
External Lighting (2006)
Handrails - internal and external (2006)
Headstones, memorials and tombs in churchyards (2006)
Memorial Safety Guidance (Ministry of Justice) (2009)
Notice boards (2006)
Paths (2006)
Pipes and cables (2006)
Seats in churchyards (2006)
Trees (Chancellor's paper) (2001)
War memorials in churches and churchyards (2006)
Window Protection (2006)
Window Repairs (2007)

In addition to these guidelines, which are produced with the specific needs and experience of the Peterborough Diocese in mind, the DAC also keeps a wide range of nationally published information and booklets. This includes most of the Council for the Care of Churches publications and a wide range of magazine and journal articles for reference. Anyone is welcome to come and look at these (in the Diocesan Office, Peterborough); please contact the DAC Secretary to arrange a convenient time to visit.

Useful Web Sites

Church Care - For all aspects of looking after churches and churchyards, including sources of funding
Funds for Historic Buildings - For sources of funding
Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme and Memorials Grant Scheme - For details of reclaiming VAT on repairs (latest information is that this scheme will continue until March 2011)
Council for British Archaeology - Church Archaeology
Council for British Archaeology - Human remains
The Church of England - Treatment of Human Remains
English Heritage - Guidance for best practice for treatment of human remains excavated from Christian burial grounds in England
English Heritage - Home Page
English Nature
Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
The Victorian Society
The Georgian Group

For further information

Please contact:

The DAC Secretary
The DAC Office
The Palace
Minster Precincts
Peterborough PE1 1YB

Tel: 01733-887007
Email: dac@peterborough-diocese.org.uk