The quinquennial inspection (QI) report is one of the key documents which assists the PCC in the care and repair of a church building, for which it is legally responsible. It gives an overview of the repair needs of the building, and lists the repairs required by priority.
New report format
PCCs and quinquennial inspectors should read the details regarding QI reports in the new Lichfield Diocesan Scheme for the Inspection of Churches (Amended 2022), which came into operation within the diocese in June 2022, as these constitute diocesan requirements in addition to the legislation. Please see the following section in the Scheme:
- 'The scope and contents of the report' (p. 2)
PCCs and inspectors should also consult the Church of England guidance (2020) on QI surveys and reports. Please see the following sections in that guidance:
- 'The survey and report', 'Follow-up', and 'Procurement and permission for subsequent repair works' (with reference to QI reports) (p. 5–7)
Key new requirements for QI reports, detailed in the amended Scheme and guidance, are:
- The report shall summarise the works needed in set categories (time ranges), now ranked '1' to '5'
- The inspector must indicate if they consider any routine items of maintenance (including repairs), within these timescales, to fall under List A or List B of the Faculty Jurisdiction (Amendment) Rules 2022
- Broad indicative costs within the bands set out in the Church of England guidance for all such works will be given
- The report shall include photographs of the exterior and the interior of the building (at least one looking east, one looking west), and illustrating particular areas of concern, marked up as appropriate
- A simple plan of the building, annotated and cross-referenced with photographs as necessary, should also be included
Net zero carbon
In accordance with the Church of England guidance (above) and in the context of the General Synod motion of February 2020, calling on all parts of the Church to make year-on-year reductions in emissions, achieving net zero carbon by 2030, the inspector should use their professional judgement to highlight in the report ways to reduce the energy used in running the church building. This may be by repairing/improving the fabric, by changing the church heating and lighting systems, or by generating electricity through renewables.
In accordance with the joint Church Buildings Council (CBC) and Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association (EASA) sustainability and net zero carbon best practice note (2021) on quinquennial inspection reports, intended for building professionals, the report should incorporate the recommended wording provided for inspectors in that note and include the Church of England's Practical Path to Net Zero Carbon for Churches as an appendix.
Submitting QI reports
In accordance with the amended Diocesan Scheme, the quinquennial inspector shall send, within 3 months of making the inspection, copies of the report in electronic and paper format to the:
- PCC of the parish in which the church is situated
- incumbent or priest in charge
The quinquennial inspector shall also send, within 3 months of making the inspection, a copy of the report in electronic format only to the:
- relevant Archdeacon – via the Archdeacon's Office:
- Lichfield Archdeaconry: archdeacon.lichfield@lichfield.anglican.org
- Walsall Archdeaconry: archdeacon.walsall@lichfield.anglican.org
- Stoke-upon-Trent Archdeaconry: archdeacon.stoke@lichfield.anglican.org
- Salop Archdeaconry: archdeacon.salop@lichfield.anglican.org
A copy of the QI report is also required to be received by the DAC Secretary, but this will be procured internally from the respective Archdeacon's PA rather than from the inspector direct. As such:
- QI reports should not be sent to the DAC Office
Please note that QI reports sent in electronic format to the Archdeacon's Office:
- should be submitted as a single PDF document and preferably 5 MB or less (file size)
- will be uploaded to the church's entry on the Church of England's Church Heritage Record (CHR) (report not publicly visible) by the Archdeacon's PA