If a PCC agrees they would like to make any alterations to a church building, its contents, or its churchyard, an application for a Faculty will usually be required.
A Faculty is legal permission to carry out the development work. However, there are different permissions depending on what is being proposed so it is vitally important that whatever changes you have in mind, however small you think they are, that you get in touch with the Church Buildings Team in the first instance so they can best advise you.
The process to obtain the permission begins with a proposal from the PCC about the alterations and ends with a decision from the Chancellor of the diocese or the relevant Archdeacon as to whether it can go ahead.
Both the Chancellor and Archdeacon are advised by the DAC about the decision, which will balance the church’s missional aims and needs with the heritage and historical significance of the building or land.
Further documents and guidance can be found from Church Buildings here or in the Documents Library here.
Since 1 April 2020, all Faculty petitions and List A and B applications are now made through the Online Faculty System.
• Access the Online Faculty System.
• User Manuals for the Online Faculty System.
• You might find this PowerPoint presentation helpful, which explains the Faculty process step by step.
• Online faculty public notices
If you are in any doubt, please contact the team by emailing churchbuildings@salisbury.anglican.org or click the contact button below.
NB: applications will NOT be accepted by post or email – please use the link above. The team will answer queries as quickly as they can.
These are some helpful links to the relevant legislation governing the Faculty process:
• For cases before July 2022: The Faculty Jurisdiction (Amendment) Rules 2019
• For cases after July 2022: The Faculty Jurisdiction (Amendment) Rules 2022
For more informaton on Legal and Policy, visit the DAC page.
These are some helpful downloads which may be helpful in your particular Faculty petition:
• DAC Delegation of Powers 2020
• Letter to Archdeacon Template for List B
• Construction Design and Management
• Statement of Significance Template
• Architects Surveyors Advice Form
• List B Standard Document List
• Faculty Standard Document List
Guidance documents from DAC on the following topics:
Meet the Team
churchbuildings@salisbury.anglican.org Dan Crooke
Diocean Lead for Net Zero, Secretary to the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) and Team Leader
jarrod.hill@salisbury.anglican.org Jarrod Hill
Net Zero Decarbonisation Officer
churchbuildings@salisbury.anglican.org Joe O’Connell
Buildings Conservation and Sustainability Officer
churchbuildings@salisbury.anglican.org Lucy Scott
Church Buildings Officer
churchbuildings@salisbury.anglican.org Alex Weedon
Church Buildings Officer