Faculties

Introduction

Church buildings are the most public indication of the Church's role in the community, both as the places in which public worship takes place and as a focus for many events which reach beyond the worshipping congregation to society at large. They have also been integral to the Islands' history and development.

Though first and foremost places of worship, churches are also often the oldest building in a settlement still in continual use. Many are the largest, most architecturally complex, most archaeologically sensitive, and most visited building in their community.

With the help of their tireless volunteers, church buildings across the Bailiwick are continuing to contribute to their wider communities in increasingly diverse ways. 

In the Bailiwick of Guernsey, as in the wider Church of England, procedures have been established over the years to ensure that alterations and repairs to our church buildings are of the highest quality and that important contents are preserved. Much good advice on caring for, and developing, church buildings can be found on the Church Buildings Council Churchcare website. Whilst the financial and legal context is very different in Guernsey, the principles and good practice are transferable. 

Before any significant external or internal work in the ancient parish churches is agreed, there is consultation with the parochial church property management board estabished in each of the ten ancient parishes under the Parochial Church Property (Guernsey) Law 2015 (the law can be found here). For most such work, planning permission must be sought from the States of Guernsey's Development and Planning Authority before the work can proceed. The process for granting planning permission will require that public notice is given of the proposed work, thus allowing interested parties to comment. 

A Faculty from the Ecclesiastical Court is required for all work affecting the parish churches in Guernsey (and for the four nineteenth century 'vicarage' churches as well as the ten ancient parish churches). The Faculty process is a safeguard for all concerned, including clergy, churchwardens and parish officers. However, for those involved in making changes to a church it can seem cumbersome: for this reason, the procedures are applying for faculties, and the circumstances in which a Facuty is required, is being reviewed.

A Faculty is also required for exhumations in consecrated ground. 

Applying for a Faculty

Given the variety of applications for Faculties, there is not a standard application form. Those who wish to apply for a Faculty should contact the Ecclesiastical Court.