DAC Application Process

How does it all work?

The DAC is a statutory body, whose principal purpose is to advise the Chancellor of the Diocese in respect of each application for a Faculty. After the DAC has considered a particular set of proposals, it will then send to the church all the necessary Faculty paperwork along with all  plans, specifications and estimates previously sent to us.

Many things can now be faster tracked through the careful working of a Steering Group. The Steering Group meet once a month, roughly two weeks before the main DAC Meeting. A new list of "minor works" matters will allow parishes more flexibility in the number of matters that will not require a faculty (Still known in some quarters as the "de minimis" list.)

While every application received at the DAC can vary greatly, the Faculty Application Process can offer you a step by step guide from sending in an application to a faculty being issued.

Procedures are governed by the Faculty Jurisdiction Rules 2000. Intending applicants for faculties should seek the DAC's advice, leading in due course to a formal DAC recommendation. The DAC then issues a certificate to the applicant, who then applies to the Diocesan Chancellor for the faculty. Even if the DAC does not recommend the works proposed, the applicant may still apply, but due weight is given to the DAC's advice by the Chancellor. Decisions are usually made on the paperwork alone,  but occasionally involve a court hearing in controversial or opposed cases - e.g. for work that the DAC doesn't recommend.

Churches that operate such a system have "ecclesiastical exemption", which means that alteratons to churches in use are generally exempt from secular planning law. This should lead to proper caution in not allowing random or careless alterations to churches, especially listed buildings, lest the exemption be called in question, and in any case to avoid insensitive changes. Nevertheless, the exemption gives some liberty to the Church to allow needed alterations, within a statutory framework that balances heritage considerations with the mission of the local church.

The DAC makes visits to parishes planning major work so that they can be both advisory and supportive of the work. We have also been working on establishing better relationships with Quinquennial Architects to get more user-friendly reports which show the urgent work needed and an estimate of the cost to help parishes budget. Of course, these relationships work two ways and we will be suggesting what parishes cna do to enhance the process of inspection.

We hope that you will make use of our expertise and know we are there to support you. Some of our buildings are not easy to adapt, and some have particular heritage constraints, but we do need to find ways together of enriching our buildings for future mission and worship.

 

Quinquennial Inspections

The five yearly report on the state of the Church Building is one of the most important tools for the local church in maintaining the fabric. The report usually includes a list of recommended works in order of urgency, each of which requires a detailed specification and schedule of works before they can be undertaken. Each specification is then submitted to the DAC for advice before a petition for a faculty can be made to the Chancellor. For a step by step guide to the Quinquennial Inspection Process please click here.
 

Each incumbent is sent a Query List before the Inspection date is arranged. The QQI Architect asks that each item on the Query List is available on the day of the inspection to enable the report to be conducted thoroughly and to the Diocesan Guidelines. 

The key to good care of your church building is having a sound working relationship with your architect or surveyor. Your architect should be regarded as the Church's GP. Although an inspecting architect or surveyor is only appointed for the purpose of Quinquennial Inspection, there is a great deal to be said for keeping the same person, each time and year after year. It makes for:

♦ better planning and programming of work 

♦ an established professional relationship which is both helpful and creative

 
♦ the architect knowing about the church, its history, construction and most importantly, its problems.

The DAC strongly recommends that the inspecting architect and author of the QQI Report should be the same person who administers and directs any subsequent repairs.

 

Change of Architect

Every year your church Quinquennial is due, you have the opportunity to change your QQI architect. If however, you are not satisfied with the work of your inspecting architect or surveyor and wish to make the change sooner, you should discuss this matter with your archdeacon before submitting a change of architect request to the DAC. You can appoint another architect from the approved list which is then subject to DAC approval. Every change of architect request to the DAC should include a reason for making the change. 
 

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DAC Forms

DAC Advice Form
DAC Questionnaire
Memorials Application Form
Indemnity Form
Discontinuance of Burials Form
Petition for Exhumation
Reservation of Grave space


Helpful Information
Faculty Application Process
Applying for a Faculty
Meeting Dates 2008/2009
Statements for applications
 

Architects Forms/ Information

Architects Application Form

Architects Guidelines for QQI

QQI Blank Report

Categories of fees