The Rules are made under the Care of Places of Worship Measure 1999 (“the Measure”), which provides for certain buildings, land and structures which are not already within the faculty jurisdiction of the consistory courts of the Church of England to be brought within that jurisdiction on a voluntary basis. In order for the faculty jurisdiction to apply to such a building, it is to be included in a list kept by the Council for the Care of Churches (“the Council”) on an application by the person or body connected with the building etc who is specified in the Measure. The same person or body may apply for it to be removed from the list, and the Council has restricted powers to remove buildings etc from the list without any application being made by the relevant body or person.

The Rules prescribe the manner in which applications are to be made under the Measure and their contents, and also prescribe certain matters to be included in or annexed to the list, which is to be open to inspection by members of the public. They provide for notification of the Council’s decisions on applications and lay down procedural provisions regarding removal from the list without an application. In addition, they provide for guidance by a diocesan chancellor under section 11(8) of the Care of Churches Measure 1991 on what matters are of such a minor nature that they do not require a faculty to apply to buildings etc in the diocese which are brought within the faculty jurisdiction by inclusion in the list.