Blackburn Cathedral Fabric Advisory Committee Vacancy
Ahead of our Centenary in 2026, we are undertaking a number of exciting projects that effect the fabric of our magnificent building.
Expressions of interest:
Cathedral Fabric Advisory Committees
Across the Church of England, volunteers form a hugely valued and important resource serving in a range of roles, including helping to care for and protect the nation’s cathedrals – some of our most precious and significant buildings.
We would warmly welcome hearing from experienced professionals with an interest in cathedrals, and the time and specialist skills to serve on one of the voluntary Fabric Advisory Committees (FACs) that help to shape their conservation and development.
Works on and around the Church of England’s cathedrals are controlled by a statutory planning system, in which FACs play a leading role. Each cathedral has its own FAC: a committee of 6-10 expert members that provides the cathedral with advice on the care, conservation and development of the cathedral buildings, their setting and contents, and deals directly with some applications for works that, under the secular planning system, would require listed building consent.
Each FAC is carefully constituted to contain expertise relevant to the cathedral’s conservation and development. We wish to build up a list of suitable candidates who may be asked to join the FAC of one of 41 cathedrals in England for their next five-year term, beginning in April 2026, or to fill a casual vacancy.
Learn more about FACs and view / download more detailed information about the Care of Cathedrals Measure and the role of FACs.
Serving on an FAC offers a unique chance to form a special bond with one of England’s great buildings and with the people who use and care for it day to day. These roles are voluntary but reasonable expenses will be paid. The commitment typically involves four meetings a year, plus time to read and respond to application documents and advice requests.
We hope you will consider this opportunity even if you never previously imagined volunteering for the Church of England. We welcome applications from all walks of life and lived experience and are keen to hear from a diverse range of applicants. By diversity, we mean we want more skilled, experienced people who are also women; people of global majority heritage; LGBTQIA+; younger; with disabilities; and from all faith and social backgrounds.
We believe that removing barriers to diversity and inclusion is a fundamental part of our becoming a “simpler, humbler, bolder” Anglican Church, and in our committees we hope to achieve more robust decision making informed by diverse voices drawn from all the people and communities the Church serves.
There is no requirement to be a Christian, but as cathedrals exist to proclaim the Christian faith, appointees must be able to work comfortably and in sympathy with the mission of their Dean and Chapter.
Expressions of interest are invited from specialists in the following areas:
- Accessibility in historic buildings
- Archaeology
- Architecture
- Architectural history
- Art, stained glass and sculpture – history, theory and practice
- Church history
- Conservation – buildings and objects
- Contested Heritage
- Engineering – structural, mechanical and electrical
- Environmental conservation and management
- Lighting and sound systems – design and installation
- Liturgy and church organisation
- Museums and collections management
- Net Zero Carbon
- Project management in a heritage context
- Public realm, place making and landscape design
- Town planning
- Visitor and heritage management
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, and the geographical area(s) or specific cathedrals you would be interested to serve.
All submissions should be emailed as PDF or Word documents to [email protected] by 06 July 2025.
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 April 2026). Appointments to FACs will be made following an informal interview by the specific cathedral involved.
Find out more
For an informal discussion about the Blackburn Cathedral Fabric Advisory Committee, please contact:
Equality Statement
The Dean and Chapter recognise that discrimination and victimisation is unacceptable and that it is in the interests of the organisation and its employees to utilise the skills of the total workforce.
It is the aim of the organisation to ensure that no employee or job applicant receives less favourable facilities or treatment (either directly or indirectly) in recruitment or employment on grounds of age, disability, gender, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
Safeguarding
Blackburn Cathedral is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to align with this and our recruitment processes reflect this commitment.
Pre-Employment Checks
Please note that all offers of employment and / or volunteer roles are subject to pre-employment checks which will include receipt of satisfactory references and, where required, either basic or enhanced DBS clearance.
