DAC resources, including the application dates for 2009, can be accessed here.
What does 'DAC' stand for?
The Diocese of Ripon and Leeds is keen to avoid acronyms, but one which is still used is the DAC, or to give it its full name, the Diocesan Advisory Committee. They're the group you'll need to work with if you want to make any physical changes to your church buildings.
What do they do?
The DAC's main jobs are:
1) to advise parishes wishing to undertake any work on the fabric or furnishings of churches or churchyards;
2) to advise the Chancellor of the Diocese when the necessary Faculty (legal authorisation) is sought to do such work by issuing its Certificate (recommending, not objecting to or not recommending the proposed work);
3) to educate churchwardens and the churches architects/surveyors in the care and maintenace of the buildings for which they are responsible.
Who's the Chancellor?
Good question. The Chancellor for our diocese is his Hon. Judge Simon Grenfell. In effect, the chancellor is the person who has the final say on whether or not permission should be given to allow you to modify your church. BUT he usually acts on the advice given to him by the DAC, which is why it's so important to approach the DAC early on in the process.
The legal bit
The law governing the care of churches and churchyards is the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1991, which came into force in 1993.
Section 1 of the Measure says "Any person or body carrying out functions of care and conservation under this Measure or under any other enactment or rule of law relating to churches shall have due regard to the role of a church as a local centre of worship and mission"
The Measure provides "ecclesiastical exemption" from listed building control, but not from other secular controls, and all petitions for authorisation for work are now submitted to much keener scrutiny and questioning than previously.
The DAC also administers the Inspection of Churches Measure, which requires the quinqennial inspection of churches by architects or chartered building surveyors approved by the DAC to carry out such inspections. It is recommended that parishes build up a good relationship with their inspector and commission her/him to provide necessary specifications for repairs.
Getting in touch
The first point of contact when considering any work to your church is your Archdeacon.
The DAC Secretary can also help parishes by:
* arranging for advisers or members of the DAC to vist to discuss specific areas of concern. The DAC actively encourage parishes to get in touch at the earliest opportunity.
* advising on the steps necessary to obtain a faculty
The DAC have produced a leaflet on How to get a Faculty. There are also a number of other DAC guidelines and Chancellors General Directions, which you will find in the Resources section of this site.
For further information contact:
Ven Peter Burrows, Archdeacon of Leeds: (0113) 269 0594 or email peterb@riponleeds-diocese.org.uk
Ven Janet Henderson, Archdeacon of Richmond: (01765) 601316 or email janeth@riponleeds-diocese.org.uk
Nicola Harding and Chris Tunnard, the Diocesan Registrars: (01765) 600755 or email registry@tunnardsolicitors.com
Peter Mojsa, the DAC Secretary: (0113) 200 542 or email peterm@riponleeds-diocese.org.uk