Catholic Church > Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales > Departments > Christian Life and Worship > Patrimony Committee > Historic Churches Committees
One of the principal responsibilities of the Patrimony Committee is to monitor and support the work of the Church's Historic Churches Committees.
Under the Ecclesiastical Exemption (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Order 1994 churches and chapels in use for worship in the ownership of the Roman Catholic Church are exempted from some of the provisions of planning legislation subject to approved alternative controls and procedures being exercised by Church authorities. In general terms this means that the churches of the Catholic Church are exempt from Listed Building Control. The Church itself exercises particular care over these buildings through its Diocesan structures. With regard to listed churches and chapels any work that would normally require Listed Building Consent requires the consent of the local Historic Churches Committee. There are 13 Committees covering England and Wales. Three of these cover more than one diocese and ten operate within individual dioceses.
All Historic Churches Committees follow the procedures laid down in the Directory on the Ecclesiastical Exemption from Listed Building Control.
The procedure for appealing against a decision of a Historic Churches Committee is set out in Guidelines for Appeals.
See also the Care of Churches and their contents for further information and advice.