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Maggie Durran: Listed buildings, DACs, and innovation
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I have received this letter from a reader: “Can I set the record straight on your Church Times column of 6 June. Readers might assume that the faculty jurisdiction does not apply to unlisted churches. It does, of course, apply, irrespective of listing. “All works to a church are subject to faculty (including pollarding trees) except those contained in the Chancellor’s list of items that do not require a faculty, the ‘de minimis list’. “Churches in use are, of course, generally exempt from listed-building control; so interior and exterior works do not need listed building consent. “The only circumstances when a churchwarden would need to seek listed-building consent would be for total demolition of the church under faculty, or for work that affects the character of a separately listed structure, such as a churchyard wall or monument. “The comment about DAC members’ not being skilled in envisaging how new works might fit in with the old presumably reflects your own experience, but I have to say that many DAC members, who give freely of their enormous expertise in the service of the Church, would be rather offended by this comment.” I AM ALWAYS sorry if I have given offence, and I apologise if that has happened. DACs do have varying levels of specific expertise, but undoubtedly do a sterling job with a difficult and important agenda. It is a very challenging time for everyone who is involved in protecting our historic churches, as change is proving essential, and the process of faculty is set up with a protective conservation agenda rather than an innovative one. This is certainly not a fault of DACs, but is a sign of the increased challenge for survival, which only seems possible through change. Yet I have seen enough brilliant results in buildings to reassure me that change for the good is possible. But there are difficulties when committees have to sift out less-than-happy proposed interventions. There is a great deal of detail on all these issues, and it takes an expert to sort it out; hence my suggestion of early conversations with archdeacons and DAC secretaries. On three of my current projects, the DAC have visited the site before any designs are envisaged, so that they have input in identifying aspects of significance that must be protected, and changes that might be tolerated. Initial responses to creative ideas are also gathered. The innovation in recent years of having historic church or conservation officers in several dioceses has been productive in developing new works that fit well with the old. They are likely to have seen a variety of good innovative interventions that churches keen on change might visit to obtain insights, and are set up to have time to help churches find suitable ways to meet their needs. Send your questions to: maggie@churchtimes.co.uk. |
