Architects
APPOINTMENT OF A NEW CHURCH ARCHITECT
The Inspection of Churches Measure 1955 as amended in 1991 demands that each consecrated church must be inspected every five years by an architect or surveyor (hereinafter called "the Architect") on the Diocesan Advisory Committee's ("DAC") approved list.
The Architect appointed by the PCC with the DAC's approval will carry out the Quinquennial Inspection ("QI") and will normally be asked to prepare specifications and oversee major works. The Architect, or another person of suitable competence, may also be required as a condition of a faculty to supervise or inspect works. It is of course in order for the PCC to engage the services of an architect other than the appointed Church Architect to design and oversee work in the church but as a matter of courtesy the Church Architect should be informed.
Although the only legal requirement is that the Architect be appointed for a QI it is anticipated that a good working relationship will be developed between him/her and the PCC. If for any reason the PCC is not satisfied with the Architect's work it is perfectly entitled to ask another architect to do the next QI and to develop a new relationship. Competence, continuity and trust are the essential ingredients of a good working relationship which should ideally be akin to that between a patient and a family doctor. The Architect speaks for the building - its aesthetic wholeness, unity, development and care. For this reason he/she should be brought at the earliest stage into discussions about any embellishments and re-arrangements. He/she should aslo advise on specialist consultants, on working with English Heritage and the Amenity Societies and on grant applications.
Courtesy demands that the PCC write a suitable letter to any Architect whose services it no longer requires. Any contractual relationship with an Architect should be terminated strictly in accordance with the terms of the contract. The Diocesan Registrar is available to advise where necessary.
The following notes are designed to help you choose a new Architect. It may be that your previous Architect has retired or that you have been dissatisfied with his/her service. In the latter case you must write a letter of notice to your existing Architect as described above.
Who can you choose?
The DAC has a list of approved architects. If your church is Grade I or II* you must have the DAC's prior approval of your choice. The DAC Secretary will give you advice if requested (as will the Archdeacon - see below)-eg the names of 2 or 3 suitable persons from the approved list. In the case of all other churches the DAC has merely to be informed which architect you have chosen from the list. It is important to realise that the decision is that of the PCC.
The procedure could be as follows
You must inform your Archdeacon of your intention to appoint a new Church Architect / Surveyor and discuss the appointment with him bearing in mind the particular nature and requirements of your church building. A PCC sub committee interviews 2 or 3 people on the DAC approved list in either the church or their office and reports back to the PCC who make a choice. The sub committee should again talk with the Archdeacon before approaching a prospective appointee.
What to look for in interview?
1. Conservation experience and competence: It is most important that historic churches (most in Bath and Wells are medieval) are looked after by an architect with suitable experience and skill in the use of traditional materials and methods. The DAC regards this as of the utmost importance.
2. Church experience and knowledge: It is important that the architect has some knowledge of, and is in sympathy with, the Christian faith and the requirements of the parish church and PCC. Projects which have been undertaken by the architect should be visited and considered.
3. Specialist skills. Your appointed Architect / Surveyor may not have the distinctive skills (liturgical knowledge and flair) necessary for dealing with a major re-ordering or extension - such work should be the subject of competitive tender from, say, three invited Architects.
4. Physical agility: The architect must be able to climb ladders and to inspect properly the tower and roof.
5. Fees: The PCC must be clear about the architect's fee structure. It is important to know what the QI will cost; the scale of standard fees; charges for extras such as travel, photocopying, phone calls etc; and the cost of casual advice. For guidance, the inspection of a simple church may take 5-8 hours and a complex church may take 10-15 hours or more.
6. Locality: The architect should be reasonably local. Be sure to check on travelling expenses.
7. With effect from October 2003 any Grant assisted work must be planned and directed by a Conservation Accredited Architect or Surveyor. Your chosen architect / surveyor may not be conservation accredited in which case another suitable accredited architect / surveyor will have to plan and direct such grant assisted work. You should be aware of your chosen Architect's / Surveyor's professional qualifications and the possibility that any grant assisted work will have to be undertaken by another professional. The DAC supports conservation accreditation, which is likely to become a requirement for inclusion on the list of approved architects/ surveyors.
A word of warning about appointing someone you know
You may want to appoint someone known to you. It is always dangerous to appoint someone with a close connection with the parish. If something goes wrong both parties find themselves in a difficult position. In any case there may be embarrassment if work is slow or fees are inappropriate.
You may want to appoint someone as Architect who is not on the DAC's approved list. That is possible. The intending architect should apply to the DAC Secretary who will send him/her notes on how to apply and a questionnaire to be completed. The DAC will decide whether or not the person has the appropriate experience and competence to be included either on the General List or a List for particular churches only.
Handover to new architect / surveyor
Please ask your new architect / surveyor to make contact with his/ her predecessor to obtain copies of previous reports, plans, specifications etc so that he or she is fully briefed about your church.
Some words of warning
"It is unwise to pay too much, but it is worse to pay too little.
When you pay too much, all you lose is a little money - that is all
When you pay too little you sometimes lose everything because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do.
The common law of business prohibits paying a little and getting a lot - it can't be done.
If you deal with the lowest bidder it is well to add something for the risk you run and if you do that, you will have enough to pay for something better."
John Ruskin, 19th century poet and writer