Diocesan Advisory Committee Members/ Advisors

The volunteers who care for nearly three-hundred Church of England churches in Worcestershire and Dudley are supported by the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC), whose members give their time and specialist skills freely to help to shape the conservation and development of our churches to sustain these important centres of worship, community, and heritage.  

Works on and around churches are controlled by a statutory planning system where DACs play a key role, with each Diocese having its own DAC: a committee of experts providing advice on the care, conservation and development of churches, their contents, and surroundings. The committee is in search of new members as it approaches its new term of office from 2026 onwards.

Serving on the DAC offers a unique chance to work with these special buildings across Worcestershire and Dudley, supporting the communities who worship in, and care for them. The roles are voluntary, with expenses paid for site-visits and a bursary for continuing professional development. The commitment typically involves six meetings a year, occasional site visits, and time to read and respond to application documents and advice requests. 

We welcome those with an interest in churches to consider the role, including those who may be in earlier stages of their career, as the role is an excellent opportunity to expand your experience base with fascinating case studies. There is no requirement to be a Christian, but as churches exist to proclaim the Christian faith, appointees must be able to work comfortably and in sympathy with the mission of the Diocese and its churches. 

Expressions of interest are invited from specialists in the following areas:

• Accessibility in historic buildings – especially through lived experience
• Archaeology 
• Architecture
• Architectural history & Church history
• Art, stained glass and sculpture – history, theory and practice
• Conservation – buildings and objects
• Engineering – structural, mechanical and electrical 
• Environmental conservation and management 
• Lighting and sound systems – design and installation Liturgy and church organisation 
• Net Zero Carbon
• Project management in a heritage context  
• Town planning 

 Should you have another specialities you think would be relevant to our work, or have queries about the role, please feel free to contact us on churches@cofe-worcester.org.uk.  To express interest, please send a CV and covering letter (no more than two sides of A4) indicating your relevant area of expertise and experience.

All submissions should be emailed as PDF or Word documents to Mark Carter, Director of Church Buildings & Net Zero (churches@cofe-worcester.org.uk)  by 10 October 2025.  

Appointments to the DAC will be made following an informal interview, and we will assess applications to form a pool of expertise from which to draw upon as and when openings arise (with the expectation that most appointments will begin in January 2026, though you would be welcome to join us earlier, if the role is right for you).