Guidance for applying for a faculty
Applying for a faculty can be a daunting prospect, particulary if you have never submitted one before. The guidance documents below explain about the DAC, what a faculty is, why you need one and how to apply. They also provide a list of the information you will need to submit with a faculty application and give some pointers about using the online system.
- Please click here for general information about the DAC and our role.
- Please click here if you are thinking about doing work to your church but are not sure where to start.
- Please click here for information on faculties and why they are needed.
- Please click here for guidance on submitting a faculty, uploading supporting documents and the supporting document checklist.
- Please click here for an explanation of how the system of delegation works.
Organs and Bells Guidance
Most bell works can be done under either List A or List B. Routine maintenance of organs can be done under List A and any like for like repairs or conservation works to an organ can be done under List B. Please see below for guidance on bells and organs:
- Please click here for guidance on works to bells.
- Please click here for guidance on works to organs.
- Please click here for guidance on organ blowers.
Churchyards and Trees Guidance
- Please click here for guidance on works to trees.
Launched at the Churchyard Conference 4th October St Stephen’s Church Bowling, Bradford, the new Churchyard Toolkit for parishes offers a helping hand to make the most of your churchyard. Packed with ideas and practical advice, the toolkit takes you through six steps for a fruitful churchyard, to help you develop an actionable plan for your churchyard. It offers guidance on things to consider for each type of churchyard use, for example when developing a quiet garden, a heritage hub or a energy generation hub.
- Please click here to download the Churchyard Toolkit
Noticeboard Guidance
Is your external noticeboard looking tired and out of date or perhaps you are considering an upgrade? Please see our noticeboard advice document for help on designing your board and the type of permission you will need.
Churchyard Regulations
The Chancellor's Churchyard Regulations (Appendix II of the Chancellor's Directions) which outlines the rules and regulations for churchyards, headstones and grave spaces can be downloaded from the Consistory Court page of the Leeds Diocesan website.
Energy Performance Certificates
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) measure how efficient a building is in terms of its energy use – you may be familiar with them from buying a property. A building receives a rating from A to G – the higher the rating, the more efficient the building is and the less power is used in its heating, cooling and general operation.
A small number of PCCs may be affected by changes to the law relating to leasing of properties and EPCs, which came into effect on 1 April 2023. The changes to the law mean that buildings must have a rating of at least E before they are leased out.
Mostly, this will not affect PCCs as it does not apply when you only hire out your buildings, even if you regularly hire to the same groups and have a hire agreement with them. It does apply, however, if you have anyone using the building under a formal lease. Usually a lease is only in place when a group has sole use of a building or part of a building: it sets out terms such as rent, notice of termination and obligations on the landlord and tenant.
It is also important to note that the changes in requirements do not apply to church buildings: that is, buildings used for worship. It only applies to church halls and residential properties.
As such, most PCCs will not be affected by this change. However if you do have anyone formally leasing a non-church building from you, it is important that you read our guidance note on the new requirements and what actions you will need to take.
The full guidance note can be found here.
For any further advice on leases, contact the Diocesan Registry via Bev Mightly (Registry Clerk).