Diocese of Carlisle

DAC Legal Framework


Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Care of Churches Measure 2018 (No. 3, Part 3) lays down:

Advisory committees: continuation

1. In every diocese there is to continue to be an advisory committee for the care of churches, known as the Diocesan Advisory Committee.

2. Each advisory committee must continue to have a written constitution provided by the diocesan synod which contains—

a. the provisions set out in Schedule 2 or provisions to like effect, and

b. such other provisions as were included under section 2(3) of the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1991 (diocesan synod’s power to make provision on procedure and sub-committees).

3. The diocesan synod may by resolution amend the advisory committee’s written constitution to include further provision consistent with the provisions referred to in subsection (2).

Functions of Diocesan Advisory Committee

1. The functions of a Diocesan Advisory Committee shall be:

a. to act as an advisory body on matters affecting places of worship in the diocese and, in particular, to give advice when requested by any of the persons specified in paragraph 2 below on matters relating to:

i. the grant of faculties;
ii. the architecture, archaeology, art and history of places of worship;
iii. the use, care, planning, design and redundancy of places of worship;
iv. the use and care of the contents of such places;
v. the use and care of churchyards and burial grounds; 

b. to review and assess the degree of risk to materials, or of loss to archaeological or historic remains or records, arising from any proposals relating to the conservation, repair or alteration of places of worship, churchyards and burial grounds and the contents of such places; 

c. to develop and maintain a repository of records relating to the conservation, repair and alteration of places of worship, churchyards and burial grounds and other material (including inspection reports, inventories, technical information and photographs) relating to the work of the committee; 

d. to issue guidance for the preparation and storage of such records; 

e. to make recommendations as to the circumstances when the preparation of such a record should be made a condition of a faculty;

f. to take action to encourage the care and appreciation of places of worship, churchyards and burial grounds and the contents of such places, and for that purpose to publicise methods of conservation, repair, construction, adaptation and re-development; 

g. to perform such other functions as may be assigned to the committee by any enactment, by any Canon of the Church of England or by resolution of the diocesan synod or as the committee may be requested to perform by the bishop or chancellor of the diocese. 

2. Each of the following is a "relevant person" for the purposes of subsection (1):

a. the bishop of the diocese; 

b. the chancellor of the diocese; 

c. the archdeacons of the diocese;

d. the parochial church councils in the diocese;

e. intending applicants for faculties in the diocese;

f. the mission and pastoral committee of the diocese;

g. persons engaged in the planning, design or building of new places of worship in the diocese, not being places within the jurisdiction of the consistory court;

h. such other persons as the committee may consider appropriate.