Writing a ‘Statement of Need’
A Statement of Need is a separate document from a Statement of
Significance, but should balance and complement it. A Statement of Need is
your opportunity to explain and justify your proposal for repairs,
conservation or alterations affecting the church building. It is a document
that will help to clarify and order your thoughts, as well as helping you to
build a cogent argument for the necessity of your proposed project.
A Statement of Need is vital during the faculty process as it will inform the
PCC, DAC, CBC, English Heritage and others of your intentions and
reasoning. Your Statement of Need must convey all information succinctly,
clearly and rationally, particularly as not every reader will have had the
opportunity to visit the church personally. It should always focus on facts
and evidence.
Your Statement of Need should include all the necessary details about your
proposed project but it should not be over-long; half a side of A4 for basic
facts and general information, plus about two sides of A4 for all other
information is probably sufficient. You can write your Statement of Need as
a continuous piece of prose.
Every Statement of Need, and the information contained therein, will differ
from church to church, so the following should be treated as a guide, rather
than as a template. You do not need to address each section in the order
listed here; but do bear in mind that your Statement of Need should be a
cogent, evidence-based argument of support for your proposed project. If
your church has been visited by a delegation from the DAC, make reference
to its recommendations; and if you are discounting any of its
recommendations, it is vital you say why. If you are planning to carry out
several different projects, you must submit a separate Statement of Need for
each project.
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Statement of Need Guidance
Basic facts and general information, which could include:
Parish
Dedication
Benefice
Diocese
Address
Grid ref
Local Planning Authority
County
Statutory Listing of church
Statutory designation for structures and objects within churchyard
Conservation Area
Scheduled Monument
Tree Preservation Orders
Protected Species
County Wildlife Site (or equivalent, or SSSI)
Any other designations
Parish population
The number of church services in a month
Average attendance numbers for church services
Is the church generally open during daylight hours?
Activities other than scheduled worship
Financial position of the church
Information about the findings of the last Quinquennial Report
What do you want to happen?
State exactly what you want to happen, i.e. a new heating system, new lavatory,
meeting room, roof repair, window conservation etc.
Why do you want it to happen?
How did you come to identify the need for your proposed project? Who will benefit
from it? What evidence do you have for its necessity? If you are proposing that a
new servery is installed in the church, why? How many people attend your services
and other events that would benefit from its installation? Should you wish to carry
out a repair to the building, who identified the need? How will your proposed
project help the mission of the church?
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Why now?
You must state clearly why it is necessary for your project to take place now. Why
are the circumstances right for the project? How will it help you to build upon what
you have already achieved? Does it make sense financially? If a repair, will it prevent
further deterioration of the building; does it coincide with other repairs you are
carrying out?
Why must your proposed project happen in this particular way?
You must provide information about why you are proposing to carry out the work in
a particular way. For example, if you are proposing to install a lavatory in the church
tower, why there? Why not in the south west corner? Are there any other options,
scaling-down the project for example, that you have dismissed? If so, why?
What advice have you sought?
What advice have you sought, and from whom? For example, if you propose to
install a new heating system, have you consulted a recognised heating adviser? Has
a delegation from the DAC visited the church? If so, when?
Who supports your project?
You should provide details of any support your project has received from the local
community, local organisations or groups, your local authority, English Heritage etc.
Appendices
If you have any supporting evidence, such as letters of support from members of
the local community or the results of community consultations and/or audits,
include these as an appendix and not in the main body of the Statement of Need.
For further advice and support, please contact:
Ben Stoker (Church Development Officer)
Tel: 01522 504049
Email: [email protected]
Becky Burrows (Historic Churches Support Officer)
Tel: 01522 504048
Email: [email protected]
The Church Buildings Council also provides guidance for writing Statements of Need
and Significance. This is available from their website:
http://www.churchcare.co.uk/legal.php?GF
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