Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Care of Churches Measure 2018

Diocesan Advisory Committees

36 Advisory committees: continuation

(1) In every diocese there is to continue to be an advisory committee for the care of churches, known as the Diocesan Advisory Committee.

(2) Each advisory committee must continue to have a written constitution provided by the diocesan synod which contains—

(a) the provisions set out in Schedule 2 or provisions to like effect, and

(b) such other provisions as were included under section 2(3) of the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1991 (diocesan synod’s power to make provision on procedure and sub-committees).

(3) The diocesan synod may by resolution amend the advisory committee’s written constitution to include further provision consistent with the provisions referred to in subsection (2).

37 Advisory committees: functions

(1) The advisory committee must act as an advisory body on matters affecting places of worship in the diocese and, in particular, must give advice when requested by a relevant person on matters relating to—

(a) the grant of faculties,

(b) the architecture, archaeology, art or history of a place of worship,

(c) the use, care, planning, design or closure of a place of worship,

(d) the use or care of the contents of a place of worship, or

(e) the use or care of a churchyard or burial ground.

(2) Each of the following is a “relevant person” for the purposes of subsection (1)—

(a) the bishop of the diocese,

(b) the chancellor of the diocese,

(c) the archdeacon of each archdeaconry in the diocese,

(d) the PCC for each parish in the diocese,

(e) a person intending to apply for a faculty in the diocese,

(f) the mission and pastoral committee of the diocese,

(g) a person engaged in the planning, design or building of a new place of worship in the diocese, not being a place within the jurisdiction of the consistory court, and

(h) such other persons as the committee considers appropriate.

(3) The committee must review and assess the degree of risk to materials, or of loss to archaeological or historic remains or records, arising from proposals relating to the conservation, repair or alteration of a place of worship, churchyard or burial ground or the contents of such a place.

(4) The committee must develop and maintain a repository of—

(a) records relating to the conservation, repair and alteration of places of worship, churchyards and burial grounds, and

(b) other material (including inspection reports, inventories, technical information and photographs) relating to the work of the committee.

(5) The committee must issue guidance for the preparation and storage of the records referred to in subsection (4).

(6) The committee must make recommendations as to the circumstances in which the preparation of a record of the kind referred to in subsection (4) should be made a condition of a faculty.

(7) The committee must—

(a) take action to encourage the care and appreciation of places of worship, churchyards and burial grounds and the contents of such places, and

(b) for that purpose, publicise methods of conservation, repair, construction, adaptation and redevelopment.

(8) The advisory committee must carry out such other functions—

(a) as may be imposed on it by an enactment or by a Canon;

(b) as may be imposed on it by a resolution of the diocesan synod;

(c) as it may be requested to carry out by the bishop or chancellor.

(9) In carrying out its functions, the committee or any sub-committee it has must have due regard to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England.

(10) Any expenses incurred for enabling the committee to carry out its functions properly and effectively, and which were approved by the diocesan board of finance before being incurred, are to be paid by the board.

(11) As soon as practicable after the end of each year, the committee must prepare a report of its work and proceedings during that year and must cause the report to be laid before the diocesan synod; and the secretary of the committee must send a copy of the report to the Church Buildings Council.