York Diocesan Archive: Faculty papers

Faculty Papers, 1620-2013. The documents in these faculty files comprise for the most part petitions, citations, commissions to view, certificates, plans and estimates, copies of faculties and occasional correspondence. The files have survived in varying degrees of completeness. There are very few plans before the end of the 18th century. Archdeacons' faculty certificates, 1987-1992 [Fac.Cert].

The office of York Diocesan Registrar was, in earlier times, held by a prominent individual, who might be a cleric or a barrister. It was also held by members of the same family. From the mid seventeenth century to the late eighteenth century the office was held by the Aislabie family. Between the late eighteenth century and the late nineteenth century the office was held by younger sons of the Archbishops of York, while day to day business at the Registry was conducted by deputy registrars (sometimes one deputy, sometimes joint deputies) who were solicitors and public notaries. Today the York Diocesan Registrar is a member of a York legal practice and is a specialist in canon law and in the governance of the Church of England.

The faculty papers are arranged chronologically by year. References to plans and work conducted by particular architects and firms are given in the notes field.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws.

The Diocesan Registrar has deposited records relating to the Diocese of York at the Borthwick Institute since 1953.

The office of York Diocesan Registrar was, in earlier times, held by a prominent individual, who might be a cleric or a barrister. It was also held by members of the same family. From the mid seventeenth century to the late eighteenth century the office was held by the Aislabie family. Between the late eighteenth century and the late nineteenth century the office was held by younger sons of the Archbishops of York, while day to day business at the Registry was conducted by deputy registrars (sometimes one deputy, sometimes joint deputies) who were solicitors and public notaries. Today the York Diocesan Registrar is a member of a York legal practice and is a specialist in canon law and in the governance of the Church of England.

Faculties apply to any alteration, repair, renovation, removal or addition to the fabric or contents of a church or churchyard. Faculty jurisdiction has long applied to church buildings, and since the nineteenth century has applied to the contents of the buildings also. Typically, any alteration to a church's fabric required the consent of the ordinary (usually granted through the Diocesan Chancellor, although more recently archdeacons have also been able to issue certificates granting permission to undertake certain tasks).

A request for a faculty (petition) is made by the parish in order to undertake a specified task/works. In more recent times, the petition would also be accompanied by any architectural plans and specifications of the work. The petition is publicly displayed for a period of time during which objections can be made. If there are no objections, the faculty is issued and the work can go ahead. If there are objections, the case is usually determined through the church courts.

Hard copy finding aids are available at the Borthwick Institute for the following:
* Faculty papers, listed chronologically, 1620-1999 [FAC].
* An index to faculties [FAC] by place names, 1977-1995
* Faculty certificates, 1988-1992 [Fac.Cert] (lists are bound with the faculty papers [Fac])
* Faculty Books, 1737-1983 [Fac.Bk]
A catalogue of the faculty papers and register entries 1613-1899 has been published - P. Evans, Church Fabric in the York Diocese 1613-1899 (Borthwick Text and Calendar 19, 1995). Faculties 1613-1899 are indexed by church, subject, and by architects, artists, bell founders, organ builders etc.

2022-03-21

A reprographics service is available to researchers. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.

See 'Towards a University' by J S Purvis (York, Herald Printers, 1968) for information regarding the history of the York Diocesan Archive and its deposit at the Borthwick Institute.

Further accruals are expected.

* Archdeacons' Faculty Certificates, 1987-1992 [Fac.Cert].
* Faculty Books, 1737-1983 [Fac.Bk]. The early registers not only include faculties, sequestrations and relaxation orders, but also licences for parish clerks, schoolmasters, surgeons and midwives, commissions for granting marriage licences, caveats and dissenters' meeting-house certificates.
* Faculties not proceeded with, c1900-1967 [Fac.NP]. Files of faculty papers, plans, correspondence relating to applications that were not proceeded with. Unlisted.
* Draft Faculty papers, 1858-1911 [Fac.DRAFT]

P. Evans, Church Fabric in the York Diocese 1613-1899 (Borthwick Text and Calendar 19, 1995).

[Guide to Faculties and other records concerning the fabric of church buildings](https://www.york.ac.uk/media/borthwick/documents/Faculties%20and%20other%20church%20fabric.pdf)

Published

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