Church Buildings and Churchyards

A key priority for everyone involved with the life of the Parish Church is ensuring that our Church buildings remain open, welcoming, accessible for all and relevant for future generations. While Parochial Church Councils (PCC’s) are responsible for the care, repair and management of their Church buildings, we recognise that this is a team effort that is supported by the Church Buildings Team (CBT). The CBT can offer advice, support and resources to help keep Church buildings and Churchyards in good condition. The CBT work on the behalf of the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) and together are available to advise and support Parishes.

The team also administers parish applications for Faculty and List B works, as well as managing and administering the quinquennial inspection (five yearly inspections) scheme on behalf of the Archdeacons. For more details on what Faculty and List B means please see our Training and Guidance section below.

For grant giving bodies and information see here.

If you're unable to find what you're looking for please contact the Church Buildings Team, by emailing dac@salisbury.anglican.org. They'll respond as soon as possible.

Diocesan Advisory Committee Meeting Dates

Meetings are held monthly with the exception of Easter, August and December, although a date in December is held provisionally should the need arise. Please see below for meeting dates. For other Diocesan events please visit the calendar.

2025

24th January

21st February

21st March

9th May

13th June

18th July

12th September

17th October

21st November

Churchyards

Churchyard Regulations 2016

General guidance on Churchyard Matters

Guidance for families on Churchyard matters

External Guidance and Directories

• Icon Directory

• Building Conservation Directory

• National Churches Trust Directory

• IHBC website

• Federation of Master Builders

• Historic England Guidance

• Church Care

NB: The DAC does not recommend individual contractors. PCC’s should ensure that they are taking advice that is appropriate.

Training and Guidance

• General Church Buildings/DAC Documents

• Archaeology - A Guide for Parishes

• Presentation on 'Working with the DAC'

• Churchyard Safety and PCC Responsibilities

• Churchyard Guidance for Families

• DAC Electrical Guidance

• DAC Bell Ringing Simulators

• Cranborne Chase AONB. Guidance for this area including lighting requirements for the dark skies.

• The Faculty Rules, The DAC and the Church Buildings Team

• DAC Guidance note Heating Proforma 1

• DAC Guidance note Heating Proforma 2

• DAC Guidance note Applying for a Heating faculty Making the most of the Quinquennial Report

Buildings For Mission: Minor Repairs and Improvements Grant Fund

The Buildings for Mission Minor Repairs and Improvements Grant Fund is a national initiative that is intended to help fragile Churches maintain their building in a timely manner and avoid further costly work. The Diocese has received a grant of £132,000 to award to churches until 2025. Any church within the Diocese under Ecclesiastical Exemption and meets the criteria below is eligible. Awards range from £1000-£10,000 and will be decided on need (see below in guidance note). Funds will be distributed through a grant panel which will meet 4-6 times a year, with funding to be spent before December 2025.
See full guidance note here

See full application form here.

Upcoming Events

Churchyards: all you need to know to maintain and care for land around the church
30 October 1330 – 1530
Join the Church Buildings Team, Registry department and the Chancellor where we cover many aspects of all thing’s churchyard. Topics covered range from burials, headstones, maintenance, permissions, and closed churchyards. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions and discuss the kinds of things you are experiencing.

Statement of Significance and Need
25 November 1300 - 1600
Emmaus House, The Avenue, Wilton, Salisbury, SP2 0FG.

This in person training session covers the standard statement of significance and need in depth. Two of the most important documents in a faculty application. It covers all the headings in each document and explains what they are asking for and the types of information to put in them. It will discuss what significance means in a faculty alongside what ‘need’ is. This webinar is for anyone who is compiling a faculty application or has one in progress already.

Meet the Team

Get in touch