Resources by category

All resources in the Buildings category. Resources are listed in alphabetical order.

Access to the role of the Diocesan Buildings Committee

For further information on the role of the Diocesan Buildings Committee please click here

Canon 35 Experimental Reordering Form

Quinquennial Architect’s Inspection Guidance

Diocesan Buildings Committee Members 2023

Canon 35 Application Form

DBC Guidance Update January 2020

Canon 35 Pre Application

Maintenance of Church Graveyards

The Provincial Buildings Committee has finalised guidance about the maintenance of church graveyards. This has now been posted to the provincial website and is available at: https://www.scotland.anglican.org/vestry-resources/buildings/maintaining-graveyards/

Ecclesiastical Exemption for Listed Buildings as Places of Worship

There is a voluntary scheme in place between the churches and Historic Environment Scotland in relation to the listed buildings regime and places of worship. HES has developed some general guidance about the operation of the ecclesiastical exemption scheme  in relation to places of worship which is available on its website at: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/archives-and-research/publications/publication/?publicationld=ae94333e-5827-40a2-b123-ab0c0113cee5

Canon 35 Flow Chart

Building Grants

There is some money available for Building Grants to charges and it would be greatly appreciated if wherever possible applications could be submitted electronically to help facilitate their review and circulation to the Provincial Building Grants Group during this period of home working and virtual meetings.


The experience of the last few years has been that grant application far exceed the available funding.   It is therefore important that other funding sources are investigated wherever possible and the Group suggests that dioceses should be encouraging charges to consider submitting application to other grant awarding bodies when planning building works.  (A number of funding sources are detailed on the SEC website at: https://www.scotland.anglican.org/vestry-resources/buildings/sources-of-funding-for-repairs-and-improvements-to-church-buildings/.)   Dioceses are reminded that the application form specifically requests information on any unsuccessful  grant applications submitted in respect of the proposed works.


Given the demand for grants it is extremely unlikely that any grant in excess of 50% of the total costs will be awarded. Dioceses are requested to consider carefully before any application in excess of 50% of costs is submitted and to provide an explanation in their accompanying Letter of Support why, in the Diocese’s opinion, the application merits a grant in excess of 50% of costs.


The Group finds that photos can often assist it in its understanding of applications and is grateful to those applicants that have submitted photos with their applications.  It would be grateful if dioceses could encourage applicants to submit photos with their applications.

Applications should be submitted by the following dates.


The meeting dates and application deadlines for 2021 are:


Meeting Dates                                        Application Dates                     Submission to the Diocese


Tuesday 25 May                                     Tuesday 4 May                          Friday 23rd April
Tuesday 28 September                          Tuesday 7 September               Tuesday 24th August



PLEASE NOTE:

The process for Brechin Diocese is that Applications for Building Grants should be submitted to the Diocesan Buildings Committee via the Diocesan Secretary Mr Mike Duncan.
(a.duncan142@btinternet.com) 10 days before the submission date to the Province. Grants which are approved will be then be brought before the  Diocesan Council for final approval and will be submission ready for the Provincial Buildings Grants Group.


Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme

As you may be aware the continuing availability and operation of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS) is periodically reviewed.  Operation of the scheme had been guaranteed to March 2021.  It has however recently been announced that operation of the scheme has been renewed for a further year.

Update from Provincial Buildings Committee

The Buildings Committee would like to draw your attention to a new document which it has published on the Scottish Episcopal Church website titled “Maintenance and Building Work for your Church - Some Practical Considerations”.

The document can be found here: https://www.scotland.anglican.org/wp-content/uploads/Maintenance-and-Building-Work-for-your-Church-Some-Practical-Considerations-Nov-2021.pdf

It is important that charges are aware of the regulations, and consequent responsibilities, around church building works, particularly in view of recent incidents. It is suggested that you may wish to draw the attention of your Property Convener, or other person responsible for property-related matters, to the above document.
 

Separately, churches may be interested in new Guidance for Religious Establishments published by the Centre for Protection of National Infrastructure, available here https://www.cpni.gov.uk/system/files/documents/a3/0b/CPNI%20SMC%20for%20Religious%20Establishment%20Guidance%2007%5B1%5D.pdf

The guidance sets out how religious establishments can take relatively simple steps to protect themselves from people seeking to undertake criminal acts.