The Norwich Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) visits churches and churchyards so that it can gain a better understanding of works being proposed by a PCC. These visits also give PCC members an opportunity to explain their proposal and to ensure that the views of the parish are well represented.
Requesting a visit
A DAC site visit may be requested by the PCC at an early stage in the development of its proposal, as part of seeking informal (pre-application) advice. The DAC may otherwise suggest a visit, following consideration of a faculty proposal at a DAC meeting, and where the members then wish to consider the scheme on site.
Before requesting a DAC site visit, please see the diocesan guidance on the faculty application process.
Further details on project planning can be found in the ‘Making Changes to Your Building and Churchyard‘ section of the Church of England website.
In order that the DAC has sufficient briefing material to ensure that the visit is most effective, written and drawn information will be required in advance of a DAC site visit.
It is recommended that parishes consult their quinquennial inspector, as professional adviser to the PCC, or another suitably able professional, on the matter of commissioning and producing outline or sketch proposals, including a plan showing the location of the proposed works (as below)
Please provide the following supporting documents:
- Outline or sketch proposals, including a plan showing the location of the proposed works
- An options appraisal, i.e. of locations considered within the church (if available)
The date and time of the DAC site visit will be co-ordinated by Margaret Mallet, DAC Administrative Support, who will liaise with various DAC and PCC attendees prior to the visit.
At the visit the PCC or architect will be asked to explain why the present arrangements are not adequate, to outline their initial proposals, and to explain the thinking behind their ideas.
The DAC visitors will then need to look around the building at the areas under consideration, ask questions, and may offer verbal suggestions to the PCC for further consideration. It may be that possible options/solutions are discussed at the visit, but anything said by the DAC visitors on site should not be taken as the definitive view of the DAC – this will be sent in the form of a written report (see below).
Following the visit
The DAC officer in attendance at the visit will compile a written site visit report. This will need to be approved at a subsequent DAC meeting following the visit. Therefore, there may be a delay before it can be sent to the PCC. The PCC can then use the report as guidance in the development of its faculty application.
Please note that the DAC-approved site visit report does not give permission for the PCC’s proposals. It offers advice which the parish should use to inform and develop its faculty application to the Diocesan Chancellor. It is the Chancellor, rather than the DAC, who grants faculty permission.
DAC Adviser site visits
A DAC adviser site visit may be requested by the parish at an early stage in the development of its proposal, as part of seeking informal (pre-application) advice, or at a subsequent stage in the application process.
The DAC adviser may otherwise suggest a visit, following consideration of a submitted faculty or List B application, and where the adviser then wishes to consider the scheme on site.
For the List of DAC advisers, please click here.