Caring for church buildings is a great privilege; it can also present a burden for many church congregations.

Church buildings are often extremely old and therefore many are listed as of special architectural or historic interest. A high proportion of the churches of the diocese are listed as Grade 1 - far higher than the national average. While very beautiful, the maintenance of such ancient places of worship is expensive and there are many rules and regulations about what can and cannot be done inside or in the grounds of a church. Congregations face the dilemma of carrying the weight of this responsibility while keeping a piece of history open to the general public.

Care of buildings includes maintaining fabric, heating and lighting systems, and facilities as well as ensuring safety and providing access for people with disabilities. It also includes maintaining a tidy and safe churchyard, which conforms to the churchyard regulations. The Chancellor's regulations apply to the total care or 'planning' in regard to the building and churchyard.

To help congregations and their representatives (the Parochial Church Council) through the process of maintaining and making improvements to their churches, there is a Diocesan Advisory Committee
which is the Church's equivalent to the secular planning authority.

For DAC guidance notes and application forms please visit www.grapevine.derby.anglican.org and look in the clergy or church wardens section under buildings.

For more information, hints and tips on taking care of churches, visit www.churchcare.co.uk, a national web site set up by the Church of England for PCCs and Church Wardens.

The Diocesan Advisory Committee >>