The Council is a permanent commission of the Church of England's governing body, the General Synod. Its principal duty is to assist parishes to maintain their church buildings, contents and churchyards.The Council publishes a wide range of specialist and general booklets on the care of churches and churchyards. It also advises on designs of new church buildings and encourages new works of art and furnishings. It maintains a Register of the work of artists and craftsmen interested in church work, and maintains a Library on church architecture and related subjects.