From page 11


for competence in church building design, but it forging a relationship which will last throughout the project and beyond. It goes without saying that you will make this decision a matter for prayer.


1 Who can help us choose a short-list of suitable architects and how much can we trust these advisers? What are our criteria for the choice?


2 What is each architect’s main line of business, how much experience does each one have of church buildings (and listed buildings if relevant)? How long has the firm been in business and how big are they?


3 Does it matter whether the architect is a Christian or not? How well will they understand our worship style, community needs, budgetary constraints, faith basis? What should we consider if our inspecting architect (under the Inspection of Churches Measure) should want to be considered as the new build architect?


4 Are they happy for us to go and see some of their projects that are similar to our ideas (in type and budget) – and talk to the users? Did any exceed budget? Did any problems arise during construction or afterwards?


5 Whom would we deal with, and what kind of relationship might we expect to have with them? How impressed are we with their initial questions to us?


6 What process would they work to for these initial stages, and what are their requirements for fees? What initial work are they prepared to do without charge?


Additional questions: permissions


Most of this will be handled for you, and later, by your architect or advisers, and points are only given very briefly in what follows. But you need to be aware of the likely issues.


1 What planning consent will we need from the local authority or the necessary faculties (CofE buildings)? Do we know our obligations to consult English Heritage, and follow correct conservation area procedures if relevant?


2 For listed buildings are we aware of the need for Listed Building Consent (even if an ‘exempt denomination’ because exemption will not always be total)? For CofE churches are we asking help from our DAC to advise us on working through the Diocesan Consistory Court? For Methodist, URC and Baptist Union churches, are we aware of the need to consult our respective Listed Building Advisory Committee?


3 How can we prepare the strongest case to justify the change we are proposing? How will we list benefits such


Two websites to check out


ChurchCare: www.churchcare.co.uk Church Building Projects: www.churchbuildingprojects.co.uk Plus sites for your relevant denominational advisers.


JOHN Truscott is an independent church consultant and trainer who champions the ministry of creative organisation. Visit his website at https://www.john-truscott.co.uk and check out the Resources section for a growing range of over 160 items which you can print out and/or download. You can follow John on Twitter @johnnvtruscott. Church Administrators should join the UK Church Administrators Network (UCAN) at http://www.churchadministrators.net.


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as the church’s service to the local community, providing facilities for others to use, enhancing a historic building for future generations, and being more eco-friendly? How can we show that we are aiming to minimise visual disruption and disturbance for neighbouring properties?


4 What other statutory and related issues might arise over our proposals? Matters to consider include disability discrimination, fire regulations and car parking availability. Which ‘amenity societies’ do we need to deal with? Consider: English Heritage, Victorian Society, the Georgian Group, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.


5 What do we need to do, and when, regarding a ‘Statement of needs’ and a ‘Statement of significance’? The latter covers the historic and artistic significance of the building and its contents.


6 Are we aware of the make-up of the eventual team to run the project? This needs to include Architect, Quantity Surveyor, Construction (Design & Management) Co-ordinator, Structural Engineer, Services Engineer, Building Inspector and Builder. Also, possibly, advisers for acoustics, lighting, kitchen and audio- visuals.


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