PCC News

What does and doesn’t require a faculty?

Back in 2016 a piece of legislation, The Faculty Jurisdiction Rules (2015) came into force. This changed which pieces of work required a faculty and, for those that still do need a faculty, what documents need to be submitted.

A big change was the introduction of what’s called Lists A, B and C. Simply put, List A includes everything that can be undertaken without permission. These include such items as (not an exhaustive list):

• Repairs and replacement of fittings in existing kitchens, lavatories and office accommodation
• The repair, maintenance, removal, disposal or replacement of a flagpole
• The repair of churchyard paths and other hard-surfaced areas, including resurfacing in the same materials and colour
• The repair or like for like replacement of wire mesh window guards.

List B introduced a new concept of ‘Archdeacon’s permission’. These items can, under specific circumstances, be undertaken without the need for a full faculty. They do, however, require the written permission of your Archdeacon before any works are carried out and, although the faculty process may not be required, the standard information (such as a quotation, specification, schedule of works, relevant drawings etc) still need to be submitted. Items include (again, not an exhaustive list):

• Works of routine maintenance and repair affecting the fabric of a church or historic material
• Works of adaptation (not amounting to substantial addition or replacement) to heating systems and gas, water and other services
• The like for like replacement of roofing material
• The installation of a roof alarm
• The installation of a sound reinforcement system or loop system or the alteration of an existing system
• The disposal of free-standing chairs
• The introduction of benches in a churchyard
• The felling of a tree that is dying or dead or has become dangerous (as long as the tree in question does not have a Tree Preservation Order on it).

List C items (in effect, anything not specifically mentioned in lists A and B) require a faculty. These items include such things as removal of pews, installation of lavatories and serveries, extensions, internal reorderings and partial demolitions. Statements of Significance and Need are required, by law, before formal faculty applications can be considered. A simple pro forma for these can be downloaded from the Diocesan website.

Clarification regarding what does and does not require a faculty can be answered by the Care of Churches Office: QNP@qvbprfrbsabejvpu.bet

A comprehensive list of what items relate to which permissions can be downloaded here: wwww.DofN.org/faculty