Church Buildings and DAC

Role of church buildings

Duty to have regard to church's purpose and environmental protection:
A person carrying out functions of care and conservation... relating to churches must have due regard to the role of a church as a local centre of worship and mission, and the importance of environmental protection.
Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Care of Churches Measure

Church buildings are a physical expression of the Christian faith, designed and constructed as places of worship, mission and community. These principles are reflected in the diocesan vision and the associated diocesan strategy for 2025–30, 'Seeking the Kingdom'.

Church buildings are also a tangible link with the past, and are recognised as having special historic, cultural and artistic significance. There are more than 540 churches in the Diocese of Lichfield. As custodians of these buildings, parishes have to carefully balance the needs of the church as both a building and a community.

Faculty jurisdiction

It shall be the duty of the minister and churchwardens, if any alterations, additions, removals, or repairs are proposed to be made in the fabric, ornaments, or furniture of the church, to obtain the faculty or licence... before proceeding to execute the same.
Canons of the Church of England

When parishes wish to make changes to their church buildings, contents or churchyards, they are required to obtain the necessary permissions for works. Parishes can request permission through an online application via the Church of England's Building Management Portal (BMP), a web-based application system. The BMP replaced the Online Faculty System (OFS) nationally in October 2026.

Where applications are submitted for faculty permission, they will be considered by the Lichfield Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) at one of its regular meetings – please note the agenda closing dates (submission dates) for these meetings. List B and Additional Matter applications, for more minor works, are also made online but are administered on a rolling programme rather than through the meeting schedule.

Diocesan Advisory Committee

In respect of works or other proposals, intending applicants should consult the Diocesan Advisory Committee on the works or proposals.
Faculty Jurisdiction Rules

The Lichfield Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) is a statutory body which provides advice and guidance to parishes on the care, alteration and appropriate development of church buildings and churchyards. The DAC also advises parishes on suitably qualified and experienced professionals to undertake quinquennial inspection (QI) surveys of churches in the diocese. The functions of the DAC are governed by the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Care of Churches Measure 2018 (as amended).

The DAC members and advisers have a wide range of knowledge in a variety of specialist fields, including church architecture, archaeology, bells, clocks, organs, heating, lighting, audio-visual, telecoms and trees. As a body, the DAC offers informal (pre-application) advice to parishes on proposals in the early stages of development, and subsequently gives formal (statutory) advice on faculty applications to the Diocesan Chancellor. It is the Chancellor, rather than the DAC, who grants faculty permission.

Church Buildings Team

The Church Buildings Team (diocesan staff) advises parishes on the care and development of their church buildings and churchyards, in the context of the diocesan strategy for 2025–30, 'Seeking the Kingdom', and the national environmental plan, 'Routemap to Net Zero Carbon by 2030'.

The DAC Officers additionally provide administrative and casework support to the DAC.

The Church Buildings Team currently comprises four members of staff (full time and part time), each with specific areas of work responsibility:

• Cate Statham, Church Buildings Officer
• Giles Standing, DAC Secretary
• Felicity McWilliams, DAC Casework Officer
• Fiona North, Project Support Officer

Before contacting the Church Buildings Team (below), you may find the answer to your enquiry under frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Contact the Church Buildings Team