The Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches (DAC) is a statutory body set up under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction, which provides advice and guidance on the care of churches and churchyards.
Making changes to church buildings, contents or grounds requires submission of a faculty application (a request for permission) to the Chancellor of the Diocese. Faculties are issued by the Chancellor or the Archdeacons, taking the DAC’s advice into account.
The DAC is made up of the Chair, the Revd Canon Matt Barnes, the Archdeacons, representatives of the clergy and laity and national heritage organisations together with architects and others with specialist knowledge. The DAC also has a panel of expert advisers who serve in a voluntary capacity and can be called on to provide additional specialist advice. Between them the members and advisers of the DAC have expertise in a wide variety of specialist fields, including architecture, art, archaeology, bells, heating, organs, clocks, sound and audio systems, liturgy and the environment.
The work of the DAC is vital if the Church is to retain freedom to handle its own planning consents and so protect the role of the churches as places used for worship.
Important dates for 2023
Faculty application closing dates 2023
Friday 6th January 2023
Friday 3rd March 2023
Wednesday 26th April 2023
Friday 16th June 2023
Wednesday 23rd August 2023
Friday 27th October 2023
2023 meeting dates (PDF format)
DAC Committee Members
Revd Canon Matthew Barnes, ChairmanVenerable Karen Hamblin, Archdeacon of East Derbyshire
Revd Peter Barham, clergy member
Mr Richard Brook, Conservation Architect
Dr Christopher Charlton OBE, Member nominated by English Heritage
Mr James Darwin, Amenities Societies Representative
Mrs Virginia Davis, lay member
Mr Alex Gilbert, Local Authorities Representative
Mr Simon Gratton, Conservation Architect
Revd Canon Julian Hollywell, clergy member
Revd Canon Tony Kaunhoven, clergy member
Mr Richard Smith, Conservation Architect
Mrs Kat Alldread, Interim DAC Secretary
For advice or guidance, please contact:
Nigel Sherratt: 01332 388683
Kat Alldread: 01332 388657 (Mondays and Tuesdays only)
Email: dac@derby.anglican.org
A series of Learning in Faith Bitesize training sessions are available online to guide you through church maintenance and the faculty process. The training sessions are free of charge and available to access at any time.
The Derby Diocesan Registry website has further information on faculty jurisdiction, churchyards, memorials and more.
Churchcare provides a series of guidance notes relating to the care, use and development of church buildings. For further information and guidance, click on the Guidance Notes button below.
Submitting applications
All applications for works to churches can be made through the Online Faculty System
Additonal Matters Orders
The Faculty Jurisdiction Rules allow the Chancellor to make an order for items that are not listed in Lists A and B to be treated as such rather than needing a full faculty.
Links to the AMOs applicable to this diocese are given below.
>> Additional Matters Order - Vaccination Centres [PDF]
