The preservation and conservation of church buildings, their contents and churchyards can involve many people including volunteers, church wardens, regulatory or advisory councils and grant-giving organisations.

Monuments, wall paintings, stained glass, textiles, metalwork and church furniture are a few examples of the many types of objects and materials that need ongoing care. This page provides information on some of the sources of advice and guidance available to those thinking about commissioning conservation work on church property.

It is important to contact the appropriate body before embarking on a conservation project as there may be specific procedures to follow; in particular the major Christian denominations in England are exempt from Listed Building and Conservation Area controls in relation to works affecting listed church buildings under the Ecclesiastical Exemption. Each of the six denominations benefiting from ecclesiastical exemption has its own system of control over its listed buildings. A summary of the guidance available from each is given under the headings below.

The Catholic Church in England and Wales
The website of the Catholic Church in England and Wales provides valuable information and guidance on the care and conservation of churches and their contents. This information is available at http://www.catholic-ew.org.uk/liturgy/Department/Patrimony.html . Within this page, the link 'Historic Churches' provides information on the Historic Churches Committees, (including contact details) and the 'Directory on the Ecclesiastical Exemption' which includes guidance on when there is a need for a Faculty. Applications for a Faculty should be made to the Secretary of your diocese's Historic Churches Committee who will also be able to provide additional advice.

More general guidance is provided under the link 'Care of churches and their contents'. In this section is provided a 'Reference List of Sources of Information' under headings which include topics such as the building itself, contents, pests, storage and display, theft and vandalism, and grants and funding. There is also a 'Notes and Guidance' section which includes a number of documents aimed at those responsible for the care of churches, and in particular listed buildings.
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The Church in Wales
The Church in Wales produces a Parochial Administration Handbook, section 3 of which provides guidance on parochial property and includes a guide to the Faculty rules. If works are proposed by a parish to a consecrated church or in a churchyard, a Faculty must be obtained from the relevant Diocese. PCCs are likely to hold a copy of the handbook, and it is also available on the website of the Church in Wales at www.churchinwales.org.uk/reference/padmin/property_e.html . This weblink provides initial information including sections on the purpose of the rules, when a Faculty is needed and the procedure for applying for a Faculty. For further information on conservation of church buildings and their contents in Wales, please contact: The Property Department, The Representative Body of the Church in Wales, 39 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9XF.
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The Church of England (and Council for the Care of Churches)
The Church of England has two main sources of advice for those planning work on churches, their contents and churchyards. For work on church buildings, your first point of contact should be your Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC). This is a body with a wide range of expertise in church buildings and can usually talk through proposals and offer advice. For the conservation of historic contents, works of art in churches and historic structures in churchyards, you should first consult the Council for the Care of Churches (CCC). The Council for the Care of Churches is a permanent commission of the General Synod and supports dioceses and parishes in the use, care and development of parish churches, their contents and churchyards.

All alterations, additions, removals or repairs carried out to the fabric of a church, ornaments or furniture need a licence from the diocesan consistory court; this licence is known as a Faculty. Further information on faculty jurisdiction and the process for applying is available at www.cofe.anglican.org/about/cathandchurchbuild/faculty.html or from your DAC.

The CCC should be consulted on faculty applications involving objects of particular artistic, historic, archaeological or architectural interest. There are several Conservation Committees which give specialist advice to the Council, diocese and parishes. The committees cover bells, books and manuscripts, clocks, decorative plasterwork, metalwork, organs, paintings on canvas and wood, stained glass, textiles, timberwork, wall paintings, mausolea & monuments and other historic structures in churchyards. Conservation staff at the CCC can provide guidance on faculty applications for historic works and may also be able to advise on grant aid. The CCC produces detailed guidelines for information required in conservators' reports and proposals accompanying faculty and grant applications. You should ask for a copy of the relevant document and make sure that your chosen conservator is aware of the guidelines when submitting reports and proposals. Further information on the Council for the Care of Churches, together with contact details for conservation staff is available at www.cofe.anglican.org/about/cathandchurchbuild/conservation.html .

Additional useful information, including an A-Z of church maintenance, a Calendar of care, Guidance Notes, Fundraising, Security and links to diocesan websites is available at www.churchcare.co.uk .
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The Methodist Church

All matters relating to chapels which are listed buildings or within conservation areas are dealt with by the Methodist Property Office which is part of the Resourcing Mission Office. The Methodist Church website provides access to a series of helpful leaflets under the heading 'Conservation information leaflets and publications' available at www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=information.content&cmid=186 . Amongst these is a document entitled 'Submission of schemes to the Connexional Property Committee' which outlines when proposed works of alteration need approval from the Connexional Property Committee of the Methodist Church (ecclesiastical exemption) and how to apply for such approval. The document is supported by further guidance on the preparation of Statements of Significance and Need. The website also advises early consultation with the Connexional Property Committee's Conservation Officer who may be contacted at tech_cons@property.methodist.org.uk .
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The United Reformed Church
The United Reformed Church provides clear guidance on the issue of Ecclesiastical Exemption at www.urc.org.uk/plato/legal/ecclesiastical_exemption.htm , explaining that 'The URC is one of the denominations which enjoys Ecclesiastical Exemption, which means that we have an approved system to allow the church to deal with matters which would otherwise require Listed Building Consent from the local authority". The guidance is given under headings such as 'Does this apply to you?' and 'Procedure'. In addition, each Synod has a Listed Building Advisory Committee (LBAC) and you are advised to contact your Synod's LBAC as early as possible to discuss your proposals with them. The main URC website gives the contact details for your Synod at www.urc.org.uk/about_the_urc/synods_new/province_index.htm .
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